By OBG OBG
Returning the salmon run would return the ecosystem to a more natural state. It would also improve creek health. A healthy salmon run means you have a healthy creek.
By OBG OBG
There are many culverts in the creek. Some of them such as the one under fireman's park are too steep for the salmon to get up so a fish ladder would need to be installed.
By OBG OBG
Historically, coho and chum salmon would spawn here but the habitat was no longer suitable for them. However, with more restoration to the creek chum salmon would most likely be the best fit for the ecosystem due to their pollution tolerance.
By OBG OBG
At Goldstream during the salmon run, you can see many wild animals (bears, eagles, ravens, cougars, etc.). With more fish in the creek, there would probably be an increase in these types of animals in the area.
By OB M
In the Riparian zones along the creek you can find microbes living among hydrophilic plants. These areas have unsaturated soil. Unfortunately Bowker Creek doesn’t have many Riparian zones left, so these microbes aren’t as common as they used to be. Bacteria can also be found in and around Bowker Creek.
By OB M
Bowker Creek is a functional ecosystem because it is balanced. If the ecosystem was unbalanced then many species would either go extinct or become too abundant. For example, if the ducks went extinct then there would be too many leeches in the creek. The leeches could take over and become the main species.
By OB M
In the past, Bowker Creek had many more Riparian ecosystems and organisms within it. However, now that we have been urbanizing the environment around the creek even fewer Riparian species have been visible.
Bowker Creek used to be a large, functional stream with many diverse organisms. It was a source of food and water for the First Nations before the Europeans came.
By OB M
If organisms went extinct in the creek the water quality would become better, but the ecosystem would fall apart. All the plant species would be dominant and many would grow out of control. The invasive species would overtake the native ones, and it would ruin all of the restoration work that we are currently doing.