THE NORTH SHORE
Capilano River - Cleveland Dam - Salmon Hatchery
North Vancouver - West Vancouver
British Columbia - Canada
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The Capilano River is considered to be the physical boundary between West Vancouver on the west and North Vancouver on the east. For general purposes the river begins as the overflow from Cleveland Dam which was built to create a municipal water reservoir that is part of a system that services the region.
The river's true source is somewhere beyond the dam in the surrounding mountains that create this watershed.
As the Capilano courses through the forest and canyons to Burrard Inlet it is part of a large regional park that incorporates many recreational opportunities. At Cleveland Dam, viewing areas, picnic grounds and walking trails serviced by public facilities and a free parking lot are open to public use.
A short way downstream is the Salmon Hatchery with extensive educational displays covering many aspects of the salmon life cycle and the functioning of the hatchery. Viewing areas include a glass side to the fish ladder allowing visitors the opportunity to see the salmon migrate upstream to where they will be harvested of their eggs. The educational portion of the facilty is free to the public. As well more river viewpoints and trails are available for exploring. Depending on water levels a system of trails follows the river much of its distance to the inlet.
Salmon Hatchery
Long Description:
From the Fisheries and Oceans website:
"The Capilano River originates near Capilano Mountain, 32 km upstream from the west end of Burrard Inlet. As early as 1889, the river was partially dammed to supply water for the growing city of Vancouver. In 1954, construction of the Cleveland Dam was completed 6 km from the ocean, creating a reservoir that currently supplies 40% of Greater Vancouver's water supply.
The construction of the Cleveland Dam blocked the route of coho and steelhead traveling up the Capilano River to spawn. Greater than 95% of their spawning and approximately 75% of their rearing habitat was lost.
To mitigate this loss, the Greater Vancouver Water District constructed a concrete river weir and fish ladder. This system collected adult salmon returning to the river to spawn. They were then transported in transport tanks and deposited above the dam to continue their journey upstream. However, young salmon migrating downstream to the ocean suffered high losses, as they had to travel over the dam. Over the next decade the Capilano salmon stocks continued to decline.
To address this problem, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans decided to build Capilano Hatchery to rear and release salmon below the dam. Construction began in 1969 and the three million-dollar facility was completed in 1971.
Capilano Salmon Hatchery is now famous for its contribution of coho and steelhead to the sport fishery in Burrard Inlet. Also, Chinook salmon were introduced to the system in an attempt to establish a self-sustaining run of these prized sport fish in the Capilano River fishery and Vancouver Harbor tidal sport fishery. Salmon returning in the fall to the Capilano River also provide an active food and ceremonial fishery for the Squamish First Nation.
Scientific research is an important aspect of the hatchery. Salmon and working facilities are provided for research projects originating in the private and public sectors. Prior to being released, a percentage of the juvenile chinook and coho are tagged with an internal coded-wire-tag, and given an external adipose fin clip. Information gathered from this program is used to analyze experimental work as well as reveal details on fish migration, ocean survival and fishery contribution rates.
Another major role of the Capilano Salmon Hatchery is public education. Coho eggs and adults are used in the Salmonids in the Classroom programs in local schools. Coho fry and smolts are used to support various Community Involvement Projects and Public Involvement Projects in the Burrard Inlet and Indian Arm area of Greater Vancouver. The hatchery is open for public viewing every day, allowing locals and visitors form around the world a chance to learn more about this magnificent resource."
Fish production has risen to 1,200,000 smolts released of Chinook and Coho. (600,000 each) They are also trying to bring back the Steelhead population with a release of 5,000 summer run and 10,000 winter run smolts.
Although there are no tours per say, there is a downloadable brochure for a self guided tour, which they say takes about a half hour to complete. There is also an information booth but it was closed on our visit. The fall is the best time to visit as this is the time of year when the most fish are returning.
There is also a small interpretive centre that shows the life cycle of the species that the hatchery deals with and a small gift shop that raises funds for Salmon enhancement.
The hatchery's interpretive centre is open to the public every day of the year. There is no charge.
November - March 8 AM - 4 PM
April 8 AM - 4:45 PM
May 8 AM - 7 PM
June - August 8 AM - 8 PM
September 8 AM - 7 PM
October 8 AM - 4:45 PM
The hatchery office hours are from 8 AM - 4 PM, Monday to Friday.
Salmon Hatchery ~
All of these facilities are accessible from Capilano Road in North Vancouver.
Salmon Eggs Hatching at the Seymour Hatchery
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jgp6OjpfrQo
more photos at:
http://www.google.com/images?hl=zh-tw&q=Cleveland+Dam&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=ycK7TPHKDIKusAPYm6iJDQ&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=2&ved=0CCsQsAQwAQ&biw=1899&bih=873
2010.10.17 NORTH VANCOUVER
