|
|
|
|
FISH ACCESS
| |
| |
Historically, fish could travel from the estuaries to the upper reaches of all the watershed streams, where steeper gradient was the only limiting factor.
| |
|
When the North Shore was settled, development resulted in streams being changed. Some were straightened, others diverted, or filled in.
To allow road crossings over the streams, either bridges were built or culverts were placed within the stream channels and then covered.
| |
| |
In order to protect some culverts from being blocked by debris, catch basins were built. To control waterflow, stilling basins were built.
Some water and sewer and utility pipelines crossed the streams, resting directly on the stream bed itself.
| |
|
Most of these constructions blocked fish passage.
The blockages meant that salmon, in particular, could no longer travel to the areas with the best habitat for spawning and rearing young salmon.
Mosquito Creek is only accessible up to Queens Road.
Wagg Creek is blocked at Jones Avenue. Lower Mission Creek, at Larson Road.
Access to Thain Creek and Upper Mission Creek, is now blocked at Evergreen, although the long section between Westview and Evergreen was opened up in 2003 when a fish ladder was installed at the Queens Road culvert.
| |
| |
There is also a fish ladder on Mosquito Creek.
| |
| |
Aside from man-made obstacles, fish access throughout the streams varies as water levels rise and fall. Long dry periods result in low flows which make some parts inaccessible.
| |
|
|
|
