Submitted
More than 25 volunteers gathered at Brooklyn Creek this past weekend to haul three truck loads of gravel into five pools created to enhance wild salmon habitat in the stream.
Ian Moul, president of Brooklyn Creek Watershed Society, says 18 yards of gravel (three truck loads) was placed in the five pools.
“The purpose was to improve spawning habitat for both Coho and Cutthroat,” said Moul. “In years gone by we have seen Coho spawning here in October and November. Salish Park is a location where spawning habitat was created in about 2007. This year some of the original work was tweaked and we have now added more gravel. This should be a very good spot to see salmon spawning, hopefully this fall.”
Their work was funded by a $2,000 Pacific Western Brewing Community Foundation salmon enhancement grant awarded the Brooklyn Creek Watershed Society in April.
“On behalf of the Coho and other salmon that live in the stream, we thank PWB for the generous donation,” said BCWS director Christine Hodgson. “We used most of the funds to purchase food and drink for the hard working souls who volunteered and we provided them with either a hat or a bag as a token of thanks.
“The gravel was donated so we used the remaining funds to purchase a wheelbarrow and other equipment.”
Kazuko Komatsu, owner of the Prince George-based brewery, launched the $20,000 PWB Community Foundation Salmon Enhancement Fund a year ago.
The fund supports the protection, conservation, enhancement or rehabilitation of Pacific salmon and their habitat and is reserved exclusively for volunteers attached to registered societies. Other grants averaging $2,000 have gone to salmon enhancement volunteers in Port Alberni, Powell River, Terrace and Campbell River.
To apply for support go to PWB’s website home pagewww.pwbrewing.com and follow the prompt. The PWB Community Foundation will be adjudicating requests for support throughout the fall and winter.