In the summer of 2022, the Alouette River Management Society began working on the Morse Creek Connections – Freshwater Initiative. The goals of this project were to:
- To help restore over time the ecological health of Morse Creek through a range of activities to address water quality degradation, shoreline destabilization from over- and misuse of the streambanks, inflow of point and non-point pollution.
- To create capacity-building for freshwater stewardship in partnership with local inner-city school and community groups.
- To engage youth through the creation of a permanent art installation focused on clean water
Morse Creek runs through Reg Franklin Park in the City of Maple Ridge and, because of its proximity to the downtown core, the park sees a high volume of use from visitors. The Alouette River Management Society had identified Morse Creek and Reg Franklin Park as a prime location for community efforts given its proximity to Eric Langton Elementary School (it borders the school grounds) and that it was being championed by two school teachers who have worked with ARMS in the past on ecological education activities. This project was important as Morse Creek connects to the South Alouette River, which leads into the Pitt River and thereby into the Fraser River, which is one of the most productive salmon rivers in the world.
The Alouette River itself has been designated a historic river by the B.C. Government. This designation is one it which describes the Alouette River as important to the overall health and well-being of the local Katzie First Nation, whose traditional lands the Alouette River runs through. Morse Creek is one of those highly important streams which feeds directly into the Alouette River. Being an inner-city stream, it has been directly affected by urban development, invasive species encroachment, and littering.
Satellite view of Reg Franklin Park, where Morse Creek runs through and the proximity of the urban development around the creek.
In order to highlight the importance of this creek and its impacts on the wildlife and environment, staff provided direct environmental education to multiple classes in the School District of Maple Ridge, who then learnt how to operate water quality equipment, collecting monitoring data and plant native shrubs. Throughout the process invasive plant experts were engaged to co-lead different types of activities, including invasive plant removals, art installations and water quality assessments. Participants were trained in Streamkeepers methodology with the help of the Pacific Streamkeepers federation.
Above images are from an invasive blackberry removal and native shrub planting session in partnership with Lower Mainland Green Team of Canada. Over a period of two days, Himalayan blackberry was removed and over 40 native plants were added into the landscape around Morse Creek in Reg Franklin Park in March 2024.
In the span of 20 months, an incredible amount of work was able to be completed. The overall outcomes from July 2022 – March 2024 can be seen below:
- 25 events or workshops hosted, including two Streamkeepers training workshops
- 1279 pieces of trash removed from the area of Morse Creek
- 1313 square meters enhanced with removal of invasive plants and new native shrubs
- 318 native shrubs planted including nootka rose, red osier dogwood, vine maple, snowberry, hardhack, sword ferns
- 114.5 cubic meters of invasive plants removed including Himalayan blackberry and English ivy
- 515 elementary students participated in planting, water quality surveys, aquatic invertebrate surveys and mural painting
- 267 volunteers involved in removing invasive plants, planting native shrubs and trees, painting yellow fish on drains
- 34 participants trained in streamkeepers methodology and ivy-weaving as an art practice
- 40 catch basins painted with yellow fish
- $13,132.50 worth of volunteer time donated to this project to date
Many amazing connections were made with new and returning volunteers during the many activities ARMS hosted and co-hosted with wonderful environmental groups and schools including Lower Mainland Green Team of Canada, Invasive Species Council of Metro Vancouver, Maple Ridge Adopt-a-Block, Maple Ridge Lions Club, Pacific Streamkeepers Federation, Stream of Dreams Mural Society, Ecole’ Eric Langton Elementary School, Blue Mountain Elementary School and more!
A big thank you to the major funders who helped make this work possible:
- Environment and Climate Change Canada $50,000
- Stewart Family Foundation approved $15,000
- Pacific Salmon Foundation approved $5,508
To read more about this project, you can check out articles in the news:
