No source identified in Hyde Creek fish kill

Approximately 5,000 Hyde Creek aquatic organisms including coho, fry, and trout were killed April 30, likely after a chemical solution was dumped into the waterway.

The Hyde Creek Watershed Society recently revealed the extent of the fish kill following an investigation from Fisheries and Oceans Canada that traced the chemical’s path from Coast Meridian to the pumphouse on Cedar Drive.

“There were dead fish on the bottom and live fish swimming among them,” reported Hyde Creek Watershed Society board member Helen Howes.

Whatever chemical it was, “it went through pretty fast,” Howes said.

Dead fish were found as far upstream as Coast Meridian, according to Port Coquitlam environmental coordinator Scott Walmsley, who suggested the pollutant might have entered the creek near the hatchery culverts at Coast Meridian.

The source was not identified, Walmsley confirmed.

The creek had generally been fairly healthy through the spring, with decent water levels and plenty of coho fry and cutthroat trout, according to Howes.

She was at a meeting on the evening of April 30 when concerned residents came to the hatchery gates and said there were dead fish.

While there was no strange smell or discolouration associated with someone dumping a porta-potty, Howes and others saw fish floating under a footbridge.

She speculated that a resident might have disposed of a carpet cleaning solution or dumped a pool or hot tub into a storm drain, sending chlorine into the creek.

Howes emphasized the importance of residents educating their neighbours about not pouring toxic substances into storm drains.

“The city is reminding all residents that nothing should ever be dumped into storm drains, ditches, or culverts. These lead directly into local waterways like Hyde Creek and can cause serious harm to sensitive fish and wildlife habitats. Even substances that seem harmless can have devastating environmental impacts,” Walmsley stated in an email to the Dispatch.

The city investigated a similar incident in April 2024, when more than 2,300 fish were poisoned at the Hyde Creek Hatchery. The source was not identified.

In otter news

The creek has been bustling with wildlife recently Howes said, noting an otter recently gobbled up recently released smolts.

“[The otter] would come to the surface with a fish in his mouth and I’d say: ‘that’s a year-and-a-half of growth,’” Howes said. “They’re pretty cute when they’re not eating our fish.”