CHEF CREEK SPAWNING HABITAT and STREAMBED SUBSTRATE

Gravel free of contaminants and fine sediments are essential for successful salmon and trout spawning.

Cool, well oxygenated water flows over the developing fish embryos that incubate within interstitial spaces of the substrate.

Clean gravel provides diverse habitat for benthic invertebrates.

Prior to the 2006 habitat restoration works, the only spawning substrate within Warren Cook’s property was within 80m of channel downstream of the Dayliner railway line. The pools were deepened and riffles enhanced within this section.

Ten new riffles and spawning platforms were constructed with clean gravel of a suitable size and depth for spawning using seven gravel truck loads of durable angular riprap, and 36 loads of custom made spawning gravel, cobbles and boulders originating from Rosewall Creek.

A portable gravel screener processed about 3,000 m3 of gravel stockpiles extracted from Rosewall Creek to manufacture spawning gravel for Chef Creek. Fisheries and Oceans Canada staff Les Clint, Big Qualicum Hatchery and Mel Sheng, Resource Restoration donated the gravel and facilitated site access.

Small rock weirs were used to hold the gravel in place, create down and upwelling flows and backflood the spawning gravel. The manufactured spawning gravel was placed about 0.4-0.5m deep to create spawning platforms for trout and salmon.

Chum salmon spawning on constructed platforms on Chef Creek at Warren Cook Property, November 2006. A test excavation exposed a hardpan substrate, which was not suitable spawning substrate and according to Warren Cook, he never previously observed spawning in this visible location beside his backyard.

The new spawning habitat that will help chum populations, and for the approved pink salmon transplant, which in the target reach had limited spawning substrate. Multi-species spawning habitat was also created in other sections of the creek, for chum, pink and coho salmon and resident and sea-run trout.