Sightings of jumping salmon in the waters of Cordova Bay near the mouth of Douglas Creek emerged in late October, signalling the return of chum salmon for their annual spawning.
As steady autumn rainfall reinvigorated the creek, three chum were spotted at the mouth of the stream on the morning of Nov. 4. That evening, the number had grown to seven, according to a newsletter from the PKOLS–Mount Douglas Conservancy.
By the next day, chums were observed in every spawning pool below Ash Road, with numbers remaining steady over several days. The sight of carcasses the following week indicated a successful spawning.
This year’s returns mark a significant improvement compared to last year when chum numbers were so low that restoration efforts had to artificially introduce coho carcasses to the creek, the newsletter noted.
Despite the good news, ongoing challenges still threaten Douglas Creek’s fragile ecosystems. Volunteers have reported household garbage, creekside campfires, and off-leash dogs disturbing spawning fish. Despite fencing and signage, the conservancy is urging park users to respect the federally designated fish-bearing stream, avoid rogue trails and stop any human activities that could disrupt salmon habitats.
The Douglas Creek watershed has undergone extensive restoration in recent decades, transforming from what naturalist Freeman King described in 1974 as “polluted, stinking, and battered” into a vital salmon-bearing stream, reads the newsletter.
This year’s return reflects the community’s ongoing conservation efforts and underscores the need for continued education and protection of the delicate salmon life cycle, concluded the document.
For more information, visit pkols-mountdouglas.ca.
