The McLennan Watershed

Wednesday in City Hall saw the gathering of a group of stakeholders in the Downes Creek Integrated Stormwater Management Plan, conducted by Associated Engineering. We had an opportunity to be exposed to the results of Phase 1 of the ISMP.
At the table were farmers and landowners, the Matsqui Dyking and Drainage Committee, DFO Representatives, City of Abbotsford staff, the Fraser Valley Conservancy, and myself. Downes Creek StreamKeepers.
I'm impressed with the scope of the work being conducted by AE. Fish presence mapping. Land use statistics, including a finding of approximately 32% impervious surface in the watershed (typically 10% creates negative impacts - hopefully that number is one of the options in the poll on this site...haha). Stormwater modelling. Reach mapping. Detailed watercourse mapping. Biological analysis - rare species etc. Erosion points. Macroinvertebrate surveys.
And this is only Phase 1. All this will be compiled in a report to City Council regarding the future development of the watershed, and with 32% impervious surface already, any development will need to be of the low impact type.

This lens is intended to raise the profile of the McLennan Watershed's natural features in the hopes of one day seeing the formation of a local stewardship group composed of McLennan watershed residents and concerned members of the community.
In the face of increasing urbanization and ALR removals, water quality and quantity in the watershed need monitoring. Spawning salmon surveys should be completed annually along with fry sampling. These and more are things which a small group of caring people can do with relative ease, so please contact me through the information under my bio in the top right of this site if you are interested in participating in such activities.

Being much smaller than the neighbouring Clayburn Watershed with its six or more tributary streams, the McLennan watershed has only two tributaries, one of which it is named after.
McLennan Creek branches out towards the southwest, passing under Olund road, flowing through Goat Pride Dairy and a deep ravine from Mt.Lehman to Olund. Much of the ravine contains an excellent buffer zone of vegetation, and spawning chum are seen regulary under the bridge at Olund Rd.
Downes Creek forks in from the southeast, although it flows due east in the ravine before "turning the bend" and swinging around to meet McLennan Creek. Where it parallels Gladwin Rd, both a golf course and pulp mill, as well as blueberry fields, hay fields, and cattle pasture are situated along its banks. Flooding is becoming increasingly common on this stream, a phenomena often associated with urbanization.

Ravine Park Salmon Enhancement Society- a mainstay on the Abbotsford scene for approximately two decades, this society raises coho salmon for release into local streams, and operates "Salmonids in the Classroom" together with the DFO.
Fraser Valley Conservancy - see link below
Abbotsford StreamKeepers - disbanded as of 2003 due to a lack of volunteer interest.
Clayburn Creek Watershed Initiative - A new group of Clayburn watershed residents working to ensure a balanced approach to development in the watershed, which includes the northwestern section of Sumas Mountain.
Central Valley Naturalists - local naturalist group and the "hub" of the Abbotsford stewardship community.

The spawning season for coho and chum is effectively over for this year, with observed totals standing at 4 coho and 3 chum. Cutthroat trout should still be in the stream for the next couple months. However, if anybody is on the creek and sees any fish, let me know!