Река Кокуитлам: История, экология и сохранение.

The Coquitlam River (/koʊˈkwɪtləm/ or /kəˈkwɪtləm/) is a tributary of the Fraser River in the Canadian province of British Columbia. The river's name comes from the word Kʷikʷəƛ̓əm which translates to "Red fish up the river". The name is a reference to a sockeye salmon species that once occupied the river's waters. The river is an 18 km meandering river with 30 tributaries and various morphological features. Owing to the size and area of its location, the river has a history of disastrous floods. The Kwikwetlem first nations were the first humans to live in the area, followed by settlers thousands of years later. The river's long history and importance have led to conservation efforts by different organizations for some of the various mammals, birds, fish, and plants. Some attempts have been made to rejuvenate the salmonid species with hatcheries and direct human intervention to assist wild salmonids. The area is also known to have some species which are included on the BC Species at Risk Act and The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) lists.

The Coquitlam River is located within the Coquitlam River Watershed, which has a total area of 340 km2 and formed during the last glacial advance. Its source is Disappointment Lake, which is in the Coast Mountains near Indian Arm. It flows south into Coquitlam Lake, a reservoir behind the Coquitlam Dam. The Coquitlam River then continues past the dam flowing south until it reaches the Fraser River at the border between Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam. The Coquitlam River spans a total of 18 km from the dam to its outlet and receives sediment and water from 30 tributaries. This climatic zone and its position on a mountain means that it has a mean annual precipitation of 3498 mm.

The Coquitlam River is a part of the Fraser Lowland ecosection and Coastal Western Hemlock biogeoclimatic zone. The undeveloped land surrounding the river includes an oxbow lake, wetlands, and side channels. This riparian habitat includes a variety of vegetation from evergreens such as western red cedars to deciduous black cottonwoods. This forested area provides cover for animals such as black tailed deer and racoons within the urban landscape in the lower reaches of the river. The river and its tributaries are home to 24 different species of fish, 5 of these salmonids. After spawning, the fish carcasses decompose on banks and release nutrients in the soil for vegetation such as salmonberries.

Species status's are classified under the BC's conservation ranks. Red list: "Any species or ecosystem that is at risk of being lost (extirpated, endangered or threatened)". Blue list: "Any species or ecosystem that is of special concern". Yellow list: "Any species or ecosystem that is at the least risk of being lost". The following lists are not exhaustive, and were created using personal observations as well as observations from previous habitat assessments and reports of the area.

NameSpeciesStatusBlack cottonwoodPopulus trichocarpaYellowRed alderAlnus rubraYellowPacific willowSalix lasiandra var. lasiandraYellowVine mapleAcer circinatumYellowSalmonberryRubus spectabilisYellowSkunk cabbageLysichiton americanusYellowPacific ninebarkPhysocarpus capitatusYellowWestern hemlockTsuga heterophyllaYellowPacific silver firAbies amabilisYellowWestern red cedarThuja plicataYellowDouglas firPseudotsuga menziesiiYellowHimalayan blackberryRubus armeniacusExoticSword fernPolystichum munitumYellowLicorice fernPolypodium glycyrrhizaYellowEnglish hollyIlex aquifoliumExoticFalse lily of the valleyMaianthemum dilatatumYellowRed huckleberryVaccinium parvifoliumYellowRobert's geraniumGeranium robertianumExotic

The Coquitlam River is named for the Kwikwetlem First Nations (kʷikʷəƛ̓əm) who have lived in the region for at least the last nine thousand years. kʷikʷəƛ̓əm translates to "Red fish up the river" in reference to an early sockeye salmon species that once spawned in Coquitlam Lake. The Kwikwetlem were renowned for their canoe and paddle craftsmanship. The Kwikwetlem lived throughout the Coquitlam River watershed and would have relied on fishing, gathering, and trade with other First Nations living along the Fraser River. European settlers first arrived in the region in the mid 1800s and began using the river for their own purposes. The first dam was built at the mouth of Coquitlam Lake in 1892 to provide a source of drinking water for the growing colony of New Westminster.

The Coquitlam Lake dam continues to provide power to the residents of Metro Vancouver and is owned and operated by the provincial energy authority, BC hydro. The lake is also one of three reservoirs used by Metro Vancouver and provides drinking water to 900,000 people. The flow reduction caused by the dam and the water diversion to Buntzen Lake affects fish and wildlife in the river and surrounding riparian zone. The barrier created by the dam restricts migration between the upper and lower parts of the watershed, which impacts salmon species in particular who used the lake as a hatching site. As a result, sockeye salmon have become almost entirely extirpated in the Coquitlam River. The dam also reduces the accumulation of woody debris in the lower reaches of the river which could be used for habitats. There are several popular parks and trails along the banks of the river including Coquitlam River Park, Lions Parks, and Gates Parks. The river is also popular with local fishermen.

There have been numerous initiatives to address and educate the public about the issues that threaten the Coquitlam River. These began in 1996 with the Coquitlam River Watershed Community Initiative, and continue today with others, such as the Coquitlam River Watershed Society established in 1998.

To rejuvenate the salmonid species in the river, the Port Coquitlam & District Hunting and Fishing Club has operated the Grist Goeson Memorial Hatchery through the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Salmonid Enhancement Program (SEP). At the hatchery, tens of thousands of juvenile fish are released each spring. These efforts has led to a rebound in coho, chum and pink salmon populations, with approximately 4 times the amount of salmon returning compared to their lowest numbers. However, other species such as sockeye salmon and steelhead trout are either not returning at all or in very low numbers. This is likely due to long lasting impacts from the Coquitlam Lake dam, logging upstream, and gravel removal. Since the dam's installation, salmon have been cut off from the valuable rearing habitat of the upper Coquitlam River. To attempt to reverse this, Fisheries and Oceans Canada plan to transport up to 100 returning coho salmon. This plan was presented in 2020 and will likely occur over a 5 year trial period. This transportation will also be managed by the Grist Goeson Memorial Hatchery.

There is a protected Wildlife Management Area found on the north side of the Coquitlam and Fraser Rivers confluence. This land is managed by the BC's Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resources Operations and Rural Developments (FLNRORD). The great blue herons found on this reserve are blue listed species under the BC Species at Risk Act (SARA) and are listed as a "special concern" under COSEWIC. In 2014, a Species at Risk project was completed and both the great blue heron as well as the blue listed red legged frog were identified along the Coquitlam River. Red legged frogs were observed in the upper reaches, however possible breeding habitat was also identified and recommended as a viable location for restoration. Due to the sensitive nature of this amphibian, it was also recommended to avoid pond draining and ditch cleaning during breeding times.