A group that aims to protect the Coquitlam River released a new video last month that highlights eight points in the watershed.
The Coquitlam River Watershed Roundtable unveiled its virtual watershed tour, via YouTube, that focuses on the Kwikwetlem First Nation land to the south and the Coquitlam reservoir to the north, and river in between.
Among the topics the hatchery, stream steward and industry representatives touch on are the decline in juvenile species, the amount of litter and invasive plants, and development encroachment.
Starting from the First Nations reserves, the tour heads up to the Maple Creek Streamkeepers in Port Coquitlam before switching back to Coquitlam to explore the Hoy-Creek and River Springs hatcheries, the Crystal Falls trailhead, Lehigh Hanson’s aggregate site and the Grist Goeson Memorial Hatchery before concluding at the dam.
But roundtable co-ordinator Sharee Dubowits, who spoke at the Nov. 16 committee in council meeting at Coquitlam city hall, said it wasn’t the only project on the books during this pandemic year.
It also took part in the shoreline cleanups and, in September, it hosted a webinar on the ecosystem. The roundtable is now creating an interactive watershed atlas to look at access and geospatial information; that application will be on its website this month, Dubowits said.
Coun. Steve Kim, council liaison for the roundtable, said he’s pleased some of the roundtable work has moved online to yield a wider audience.
“Coquitlam River is no longer rated as one of the worst in B.C.,” Coun. Brent Asmundson said, crediting the group for its actions. “It’s a process that’s slowly building over time.”
“Fish are able to be healthy,” added Coun. Trish Mandewo.
Made up of 18 members, the roundtable’s core committee meets every two months to talk about the state of the Coquitlam River. The lower watershed includes at least 30 watercourses, with the largest two tributaries being Or Creek and the Hoy/Scott/Pinnacle Creek.
