Millennium Creek update 2022

Dec. 23, 22

First the spawning:

This past fall was a record spawn for the Millennium Creek, since its restoration, starting in 2005. There is no documentation on spawning in Millennium Creek before the restoration, however, 5 brook trout were electro-fished in the lower 50 metres of the stream, and nothing upstream, this was in 2004.

On the first fall of spawning, only weeks after the spawning gravel was placed in the stream, the brook trout started their first reproductive event in the Millennium Creek. Prior to that fall event in 2008, a month after the restoration work had been completed, and a week of spawning habitat enhancement work, the trout got right into it!

You see, the Millennium Creek had been attracting the Bighill Creek brook trout since the first pool habitats were completed earlier on in the four-year restoration program. So, as soon as spawning habitat was available, the trout started using it right off the bat! 

It has been pointed out by scientists that the scent of spawning brook trout in a stream can attract lots of other fish from downstream somewhere, and these trout have a smell sensory just as keen as a shark, so scents are a really important component of their survival skills.

The chart on the left shows how productive the spawning events have been on Millennium Creek, over the years, and this fall was a record spawn. The reason being is that maintenance on spawning habitats was carried out this last summer, making sure that the clean gravel was available on previously enhanced sites.

No big deal, just a few more buckets of spawning gravel to keep the trout busy, and it worked! One key spawning habitat that had been vandalized, was refurbished and trout started spawning on the site again this fall!

Here is a look back at some stuff that I wrote in Stream Tender Magazine, way back when!

The information is great for some background on how this project got where it is today, and continues to be a success story. 

Yes, I am talking about Millennium Creek, so an update for the last days of 2022, while the snow blows, pushed by sub 30 below winds outside! Yet, the trout eggs from last fall’s spawn are tucked beneath a canopy of gravel, on the bottom of the stream bed substrate.

It is a good time of the year to reflect on how we got where we did, with so many accomplishments, in this town, is all good for the environment and the new push on protecting bio-diversity. Right now, a new satellite has been launched to study our river and stream systems, from above, so we can start a baseline of data, which can be used to work from.

It is a good thing to have such attention from this perspective as well; on streams like Millennium Creek, Ranch House Spring Creek, the Bighill Creek and the Park Spring Creek. All of the previously mentioned streams and tributaries, provide critical habitat for trout survival and the entire eco-system above and below the surface of the water.

It is our responsibility to take care of the vulnerable life forms on this planet, so why not start right in our own backyards!

The PDF below shows three pages off of the first issues in 2011: