Streamkeepers Make a Difference in Burnaby: Byrne Creek Watershed 2010 Status Report
Streamkeepers Provide Community Value
“Thousands of dedicated streamkeepers across British Columbia put in tens of thousands of volunteer hours every year caring for local creeks, rivers and 
watersheds. They educate the public, collect data ranging from salmon spawner returns to bug counts to species inventories, lead efforts to combat invasive plants in their neighbourhoods, and rehabilitate and restore habitat,” states Paul Cipywnyk, speaking on behalf of the Byrne Creek Streamkeepers Society.
“Yet much of this activity goes unnoticed. How can the results of such efforts be better publicized?”
Streamkeepers Achieve More with Less
“Streamkeepers work closely with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, provincial agencies, and municipalities. Streamkeepers ensure that there are always “eyes on the creek,” and that municipal, regional and provincial development plans receive healthy scrutiny. While tragedies such as fish kills from pollutants entering waterways result in short-term publicity, most streamkeeping work is done quietly on shoestring budgets.”
“The Byrne Creek Streamkeepers Society in southeast Burnaby is one of many organizations doing such work across the province. A merry band with 15-20 core members, and another couple of dozen contacts on its volunteer email list, the group averages around 1,800 volunteer hours per year.”
Annual Reports to City Council
“To broaden its educational impact, a few years ago the group decided to collate the data it collects, and concerns it has, in an annual report to present to Burnaby City Council, share with other partners, and make available on its website,” continues Paul Cipywnyk.
“The BCSS is fortunate to have among its members an editor, several engineers, a couple of academics, and a few avid amateur photographers who pulled together to write reports for 2004, 2005, and 2006, before temporarily burning out. After a few years of respite, the group tackled the report-writing process again early in 2011, producing a fourth document entitled Byrne Creek Watershed 2010 Status Report.”
“The report includes some ten years of updated data on spawner returns, resident juvenile fish counts, annual invertebrate surveys (bug counts) that indicate water quality, etc. (Streamkeepers receive training from the Pacific Streamkeepers Federation and follow guidelines in the The Streamkeepers Handbook – pskf.ca) The report also shares concerns about development, loss of urban biodiversity, and rainwater management, while promoting potential solutions.”
“The report is heavy on photos, charts and graphs to try to make the information engaging and accessible. There’s always a tug-of-war between those who try to make it more scientific, and those who push to simplify the language and concepts to reach the broadest possible audience.”
“While the group feels the reports are worthwhile, they are a lot of work––each one takes over a hundred volunteer hours to collate data and create charts and graphs, write each section, find and select photos, edit, do the layout, proof, etc. Byrne Creek is fortunate to have members with the interest and skills to take on such a project. Most streamkeepers like to get wet and dirty, and do hands-on field work. “
“While on-the-ground work remains the BCSS focus, we hope that such reports help to stimulate public interest in streamkeeping, and make more folks (in particular politicians and bureaucrats!) aware of how much can be accomplished for next to no financial investment. As our 2010 report concludes: Volunteers rock and their ain’t no point if you ain’t having fun!”
To Learn More:
All annual reports of the Byrne Creek Streamkeepers Society can be downloaded from http://www.byrnecreek.org/.
Posted April 2011