 
Ayum Creek, Sooke, BC
a Wild Salmon Bearing Stream for Chum and Coho Written by Judith Burke,
Director, Society for the Protection of Ayum Creek,
July 2000
Photo by Custom Air Photo, Victoria
The Society for the Protection of Ayum Creek, (SPAC), is a local registered non-profit society here in Sooke that was formed in 1996. SPAC volunteers dedicate infinite energy to the restoration and environmental stewardship of Ayum Creek Watershed and Estuary.
Ayum Creek, also called Stoney Creek, is a small wild salmon bearing stream just east of Sooke and home to wild Chum and Coho Salmon as well as many other wild creatures that dwell in this beautiful habitat.
SPAC, in partnership with the Habitat Acquisition Trust, and multiple levels of government raised the funds to purchase the 13 acres of land in the lower estuary in 1998 to create a natural park in perpetuity. This land is now a CRD Park and forms part of the long-term regional planning strategy to create a sea to sea green/blue corridor.
Since then, SPAC has been very active in restoring and enhancing this habitat for wild salmon. One of our first major projects was a cleanup to remove tons of scrap metal from the stream zone in partnership with other local groups.
Our community work involves strong partnerships with government. Our second major project was to complete an assessment of the fish habitat in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks. From this project, we learned that two of the factors that inhibited survival of the wild salmon are low water levels in the summer and the absence of riffles and large woody debris in the creek.
We then completed a hydrological study to identify options to increase the low water flows in the summer, which is a long-term goal of SPAC.
With the help of our technical advisors, we constructed five Weirs in Ayum Creek just below the Sooke Road Bridge. The boulder weirs create a series of riffles & pools and small water falls that add oxygen to the spilling water. The weirs also create new gravel beds for the wild salmon that return to spawn in the fall.
This year, in partnership with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, we are improving the complexity of the stream habitat. We will anchor large pieces of tree root wads, which will enhance the survival of juvenile wild salmon by providing shade and cover from predators. We are also looking at the possibility of creating off channel over wintering habitat for juvenile wild Coho salmon.
SPAC sponsors a variety of educational initiatives for all ages. One of our most popular programs is the Stream Keepers Program. Our Stream Keepers are professionally trained and equipped to complete water quality tests in stream and assess the habitat. This program is great family fun and involves just a few hours of time outdoors each week.
SPAC hosts regular monthly meetings, community forums, training programs, appreciation events, picnics, stream and nature walks, and much more.
Judith Burke is the Chair of Environment Committee of the Sooke Harbour Chamber of Commerce, a local environmental scientist who specializes in water quality testing for fish and also a Director of the Society for the Protection of Ayum Creek, a local wild salmon bearing stream.
 email to Waterose
Please Sign My Guestbook
Please View My Guestbook
Site Map
What's New
Search
| 
