Salmon species - Chum, Coho, Pink, Steelhead, and Cut-throat trout live in Stoney Creek. Due to urban pressure, the populations have declined. SCEC has helped organize the Great Salmon Send-Off since 1990 to release Coho salmon fry or 1-year old smolts into Stoney Creek, in the hope that some will return to Stoney Creek to spawn.

We annually count returning spawners. In 2010, we had a larger than normal Coho run, but a smaller Chum run. Pinks come only in even numbered years. See the historical counts and the Stoney Creek 2010 Spawner Distribution Map

By trapping juvenile fish SCEC is able to assess whether the released Coho fry are successfully holding and rearing in Stoney Creek over the year. We check for the presence of other species, too.

Salmonids are particular good indicators of stream health because they require good water quality and good quality habitat conditions for survival. Monitoring the return and succesfull spawning of salmon every year will help SCEC to get an overall idea about the health of the Stoney Creek ecosystem.

Here is a Spawner Viewing Map [PDF] and an Spawner ID Chart [PDF]

If you would like to volunteer on our Fish Counting Working Group, .