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[Rodney]

I didn't know this, until Dave and Buck on the forum took the time to show me around a year ago... Between 1996 and 2000, there were about six off-channels restored in the Upper Chilliwack River between the hatchery and Chilliwack Lake for additional adult salmon spawning and juvenile salmon rearing habitat. A couple of days ago, I went back with Matt Foy who is a retired biologist at DFO's salmon enhancement program. Matt was responsible for these restoration projects so he showed me around while I filmed to document everything he said. Too often we only focus on the negative impacts caused by us (or mostly others) and all the historic positive improvements tend to be neglected or forgotten. Tonight I will be sharing that video with everyone so you can see what exactly goes on up there. Here is a photo to get the thread going.

[Clarki Hunter]

Great pic Rod!  What a wonderful spot for them to quietly go about their business and then later a perfect nursery for the fry. 

[Rodney]

The video is up now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDbnoC8M2hw

[JustPuttsin]

 Great video Rod! Learned a little something with my morning coffee!! 

[bigblockfox]

i also enjoy this kind of content. how many more water sheds would benefit from restoration work like this.

[Knnn]

Excellent and interesting video.  Music at the end was perfect.

The Squamish system needs more of these off-channel spawning and refuge areas to protect fish from the horrendous and repetitive flood/gravel moving events.

[Wiseguy]

Very informative video! Enjoyable viewing! Thank you!

[wildmanyeah]

i also enjoy this kind of content. how many more water sheds would benefit from restoration work like this.

I recently watched a presentation from DFO where they said that 90+% of the habitat degradation in this province occurs in the lower mainland.

[Dave]

I recently watched a presentation from DFO where they said that 90+% of the habitat degradation in this province occurs in the lower mainland.

Probably because 90% of the population lives there.
These upper Chilliwack River channels are the gems of the watershed, imo. I know the study Matt is referring to when he explained how valuable these sites are, and I think since that study, the % contribution to the overall populations is actually higher now.  This is a fact for sure with the early run Chilliwack steelhead, whose only documented spawning sites are in/on works like these.

If there is some sort of conservation award for stuff like this, Matt Foy should be at the top of the list.

[Rodney]

Matt just emailed me a copy of the study so if anyone would like a copy, leave an email here and I will forward it.

[wildmanyeah]

ITs amazing stuff and no doubt many areas could use it.

[clarki]

Great video Rod! Learned a little something with my morning coffee!! 

Although my morning coffee wasn't at 4 frickin' 59 AM, I learned a couple of things too! Particularly about the relationship between chum/pink returns and other species, like steelhead.

Have really enjoyed the content of the videos over the fall, Rod. You have a lot of talent in shooting, editing and telling story.

[Rodney]

Thanks Clarki!

[bkk]

.

The Squamish system needs more of these off-channel spawning and refuge areas to protect fish from the horrendous and repetitive flood/gravel moving events.
[/quote]

You can't know the Squamish system very well as there are well over 15 of these projects on this system. Matt Foy pioneered these project on the North Vancouver School property on the Cheakamus as well as on the Mamquam and then moved over to the Chilliwack system and built a bunch there. Most are still functioning quite well and they accounted for a significant amount of the pitiful chum run we experienced this fall.

[bigblockfox]

is their some information you could include with the work done on the squamish. i and am sure a few others would like to see it if their is.