Swan Creek

This sheen re occurs annually at this site of the Reach

Low Flow of creek took several Days to clear! No Dead Fish seen. Municipality fully aware of critical issue.
** I was just out for a bike ride along creek therefore didn't have my H2O Quality Equipment with me ...
just camera!

'reasonable' 151 TDS upstream of Culvert

thin surface scum = not oily ... just doesn't look nice!! will try to test for something

100 Coho eggs from Goldstream River Hatchery were incubated & hatched at Swan Lake Nature House in preparation for release into designated 'enhanced' streambed area. 99 survived the alevin to fry stage.
** Bonus during this activity ***
While collecting samples of invertebrate specimens in/on creek bottom ONE CUTTHROAT FRY (the same size as these coho fry) was discovered ** concluding parallel spawning cycles IN ACTION in Nature!!

bumped into local fish biologist Dave Clough who was excited to share that in the Fall '22 when conducting a Streamkeepers course they observed SEVERAL Coho & Cutthroat fry in this Reach where the Riffles have been constructed :)

consistent turbidity with downstream >> Note: Columbine Culvert running abnormally clear , especially for today's runoff . TDS rapid range from 478-502 .. Try to check w/ Saanich Public Works for positive answer!

obvious swollen waterlevels have hidden the riffles built earlier this year.

water levels and quality are showing positive for the spawning salmon/cutthroat this year. >> no actual fish sightings in this 'lazy reach' but high activity in gravel (redds) above riffles is great to see. And once again, the Blue Heron also tells a tale.

As I approached the test site > disturbed a Blue Heron strutting along the creek bank ... so he flew up through the tree canopy.
Greater water flow from this first precipitation has cleared a lot of the duckweed. Also slight discoloration in water clarity from road runoff.