Ch’ḵw’elhp-Gibson Creek Restoration

The significance of the Creek to the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw is evidenced by the early establishment of it as a Reserve circa the 1870’s. Clearing the forested lands upstream in the watershed by colonial settlers for logging, farming, road building and eventually residential development has led to increased alterations in the stream flow both in quantity and in timing of flow. It is believed that the lowest reach now accommodates twice the amount of run-off as it did pre-development.

In 1930, below Marine Drive, the Department of Indian Affairs subdivided the entire length in lots that were available for lease. Many of these lots eventually had summer homes built on them by settlers. The basement of one house, near the mouth, actually spanned the creek channel itself. With the expiry of many of the leases approximately twenty years ago, the houses were torn down and removed, leaving only concrete foundations, walls and sidewalks - some of which are still in place alongside and in the Creek.

It is unknown if the culvert under Marine Drive did initially allow for easy Coho salmon passage. To date, the scoured plunge pool at the downstream end is further compromised by a large boulder prohibiting returning salmon to effectively jump up into the culvert against the oncoming flow of water. The metal closed bottom culvert was installed without baffles and concrete has since been used to patch the corroded bottom. Both these conditions do nothing to slow down extreme water flows; and they further restrict any salmon's ability to reach spawning grounds should any manage to enter the culvert. Replacing the failing culvert with one that supports fish passage to upstream spawning habitat is long overdue. Once the culvert is replaced and the Creek has adjusted to its new channel, fish habitat can be restored downstream both upstream, and downstream of Marine Drive.