OUR
CREEKS
WEST VANCOUVER
CREEKS.
West Vancouver is home to 22 creeks and tributaries, 10 of which are salmon bearing listed here.
The characteristics, uses and project history of these creeks are described in the watershed summaries below.
​
Our volunteers collect and monitor the water temperature of eight creeks – Brothers, Cypress, Eagle, Hadden, Larson, Lawson, McDonald and Rodgers – using automated instream loggers. Water temperature is a key limiting variable to salmonid distribution and survival, and an indicator for processes occurring in the creek. At the links below you will find a collection of yearly temperature graphs representing daily average temperatures.
​
We also perform water quality testing twice a year on the same eight creeks – testing for dissolved oxygen, pH and turbidity.
​
​
Lower Brothers Creek, Lower Larson Creek, MacDonald Creek, Lower Rodgers Creek
Temperature Data
Watershed summary
Area: 5.63 km2 Length: 6.9 km Orientation: Northwest-southeast Elevation range: 10 – 1060 m
Characteristics
Third largest watershed in West Vancouver.
Originates on southeast side of Hollyburn Ridge and includes several small lakes, wetlands and tributaries in the headwaters.
Flows through forested mountainside before entering the northwest corner of the British Properties. Passes under the Upper Levels Highway, through Cedardale residential area before discharging into the Capilano River upstream of Marine Drive. Main tributaries are West Brothers Creek, Hadden Creek and Macbeth Creek.
Culverts: Flows openly from Taylor Way to the Capilano River.
Watershed uses
Residential: from Millstream Road to Capilano River, a distance of approximately 3.5 kilometres
Commercial: office buildings near junction with Capilano River
Parks: Cypress Provincial Park, Brothers Creek Park, Chartwell Park
Recreational: Cypress Mountain cross-country ski area in headwaters, Capilano Golf Club, Hollyburn Country Club
Schools: Westcot Elementary, Ecole Cedardale, Saint Anthony’s, Sentinel Secondary
Fish: chum, coho, pink and chinook salmon, and cutthroat, steelhead and rainbow trout
Watershed Projects
Fishway or culvert baffles installed on West Brothers Creek, Westcot Creek tributary, Hadden Creek, Macbeth Creek tributary and Brothers Creek under the Upper Levels Highway (1997-1998)
Annual spawner salmon surveys (since 1997) and releases of hatchery fry
Environmental study of Brothers, West Brothers and Hadden creeks (1997)
Biophysical inventory and assessment (1980-1994)
Drainage system inventory (1998)
Updated 2015. Source: Pacific Streamkeepers Federation watershed profile (2001)
2021 Upper Cypress Creek Survey Data
2021 Lower Cypress Creek Survey Data
Watershed Summary
Area: 13.3 km2 Length: 9 km Orientation: Northeast-southwest Elevation Range: 0 – 1230 m
Characteristics
Largest watershed in West Vancouver.
Originates in numerous small lakes, wetlands and tributaries on east side of Black Mountain Plateau, Mount Strachan and Hollyburn Ridge in Cypress Provincial Park. Many tributaries in the Upper Lands, including Black Creek.
Flows southwest to Cypress Falls Park, changes direction to southerly and proceeds under Almondel Road, the Upper Levels Highway and a CN Rail trestle. Then flows west of Cypress Park School and under Marine Drive before discharging into Burrard Inlet near Pilot Cove and Stearman Beach.
Watershed uses
Residential: developed to just above Upper Levels Highway
Commercial: Cypress Park shopping on Marine Drive
Parks: Cypress Provincial Park, Cypress Falls Park
Recreational: Cypress Mountain downhill and cross-country ski areas
Schools: Cypress Park Primary
Water licences: Cypress Mountain (snow making and storage), Fisheries and Oceans Canada Center for Aquaculture and Environmental Research (CAER) and West Vancouver District (diversion of Black Creek to Eagle Lake for municipal water supply)
Fish: pink, chum, and coho in the lower reaches, cutthroat trout throughout, rainbow trout in Yew Lake
Watershed projects
Removable ladder installed at the intake weir for the CAER from late summer until early fall to enable passage of pink salmon (since 2011)
Many studies in the upper watershed prior to the 2010 Winter Olympics
Annual spawner salmon surveys (since 2006)
Water quality sampling (1999)
Drainage system inventory in headwaters (1998)
Vegetation and wildlife studies in headwaters (1997)
Annual stocking with coho and, sometimes, chum fry (since 1996), pink fry (2010 only)
Watershed Summary
Area: 3.8 km2 Length: 2.21 km Orientation: Northeast-southwest Elevation Range: 0 – 460 m
Characteristics
Twelfth largest watershed in West Vancouver.
Originates on Black Mountain downslope from Eagle Lake.
Flows down forested mountainside, captured in a culvert under Westport Road, the Upper Levels Highway and Westport Wynd. Emerges to cross under Westport Road, flows past Daffodil Lane, under Marine Drive and parallel to Eagle Harbour Road before discharging into Eagle Harbour.
Watershed Use
Residential: approximately 140 houses in the watershed
Fish: chum and coho salmon to Westport Road, cutthroat trout throughout
Watershed Projects
Culvert under Marine Drive replaced with natural-bottom culvert to ease fish passage (2010)
Turnbuckle-style baffles installed in culvert near mouth of creek to improve fish access at Marine Drive and rock steps reworked at mouth (2000)
Diversion pipes installed from Eagle Lake to augment low summer flow (1999)
Annual spawner salmon surveys (since 1997)
Stream mapping by West Vancouver streamkeepers (1997)
Stocked with coho and chum fry (since 1991)
Series of drops and pools created at the mouth to improve access for salmon (1979)
Watershed Summary
Area: 2.7 km2 Length: 4.94 km Orientation: North-south Elevation range: 60 – 652 m
Characteristics
Sixth largest watershed in West Vancouver.
Originates on south-east side of Hollyburn Ridge above the British Properties.
Flows under several roads (Millstream, Crestline, Greenwood, St. Andrews, Kenwood, Southborough) before entering the Capilano Golf Club. Elveden Lake connects by a seasonal tributary. Two tributaries cross Southborough Drive north of the main stream and join south of the entrance to the golf club. Creek crosses under Hadden Drive, Stevens Drive and the Upper Levels Highway before entering Brothers Creek east of Taylor Way.
Watershed uses
Residential: from Millstream Road until joining Brothers Creek, a distance of approximately 2.5 kilometres
Parks: Hadden Park, Andover Park
Recreational: Capilano Golf Club
Fish: coho, chum, pink, chinook salmon and cutthroat trout, as well as crayfish
Watershed projects
Culvert with built-in baffles installed at Hadden Drive to eliminate impassable crossing for returning adult salmon (2015)
Annual spawner salmon surveys (since 2006)
Fish ladders installed on either side of Stevens Drive and culvert baffled, facilitating passage for salmon (2005)
Baffles installed in culvert under Upper Levels Highway (1997)
Creek bed re-naturalized – reshaped, bank replanted and pools created – over a length of 40 metres upstream of the Upper Levels Highway (1997)
Watershed Summary
Area: 1.8 km2 Length: 4.8 km Orientation: Northeast-southwest to north-south Elevation range: 0 – 800 m
Characteristics
Eighteenth largest watershed in West Vancouver.
Originates on the southwest side of Black Mountain.
Flows down forested mountainside, under Highway 99 and the BC Ferries’ ticket booth area before emerging near the Lions Club parking lot on Marine Drive. Proceeds under Marine Drive, through the Gleneagles Golf Course and the forested Larson Bay Park before discharging into Larson Bay over a cobble beach.
Wetlands at junction of creek and Baden-Powell Trail.
Watershed uses
Residential: small urban influence
Parks: Larson Bay Park
Recreational: Gleneagles Community Centre, Gleneagles Golf Course, Baden-Powell Trail
Schools: Gleneagles Elementary
Fish: coho at mouth, cutthroat trout throughout
Water licence: District of West Vancouver for watering
Watershed projects
Gleneagles Golf Course working towards Audubon Certification (ongoing)
Annual spawner salmon surveys (since 2006)
Rearing pond built near fire hall at Marine Drive
Watershed Summary
Area: 2.43 km2 Length: 7.5 km Orientation: North-south Elevation range: 0 – 910 m
Characteristics
Seventh largest watershed in West Vancouver.
Originates on Hollyburn Ridge.
Flows down forested mountainside, through Blue Gentian Lake and other small lakes before emerging in the residential area at Pinecrest Drive. Continues under Chippendale Road and Camridge Road before being culverted under the Upper Levels Highway and Queens and Mathers avenues. Flows past West Vancouver Secondary and under Inglewood and Fulton avenues. Closed and open-box culverts carry the creek past Ambleside Village to Burrard Inlet west of John Lawson Park at the foot of 18th Street.
Watershed uses
Residential: from Pinecrest Drive to Burrard Inlet, a distance of approximately 2.8 kilometres
Commercial: Ambleside Village at Marine Drive
Parks: Cypress Provincial Park, Shields Dam Park, Douglas Woodward Park
Recreational: hiking trails, mountain biking
Fish: coho, chum and cutthroat trout
Deep artesian well at West Vancouver Secondary School
Watershed projects
Estuary enhanced through shoreline preservation work, creating defined creek path to the ocean and improving access for returning adult salmon through a broader range of tides (2007). Read more
Annual spawner salmon surveys (since 2006)
Baffles added to the continuous underground culvert running from the ocean to the weir adjacent to Royal Canadian Legion north of Marine Drive
Two fish ladders installed in above section, one underground and the other at upstream end
Watershed Summary
Area: 3.74 km2 Length: 5.99 km Orientation: North-south Elevation Range: 0 – 963 m
Characteristics
Fourth largest watershed in West Vancouver.
Originates on the south side Hollyburn Ridge in Cypress Provincial Park.
Flows in three branches through forests until reaching Whitby Estates, where two branches join before being culverted under the Upper Levels Highway. Third branch joins below Upper Levels Highway. The creek then flows under Queens Avenue and Mathers Avenue, through Hay Park, past Inglewood, Fulton and Esquimalt avenues and through Memorial Park. The lower section flows in an open box culvert from Marine Drive to Burrard Inlet near the foot of 19th Street.
Watershed uses
Residential: from Whitby Estates to Burrard Inlet, a distance of approximately 2.8 kilometres
Commercial: Ambleside Village at Marine Drive
Recreational: hiking trails, Cypress Mountain cross-country ski trails, mountain biking
Parks: Cypress Provincial Park, Hay Park, Memorial Park
Fish: coho, chum and steelhead to Fulton Avenue and perhaps beyond, cutthroat trout throughout and sculpin in the lower reaches
Watershed projects
Pool on the south side of Fulton Avenue raised to assist returning adult salmon to pass through a baffled culvert under Fulton Avenue to reach upstream spawning and rearing habitat (2015)
Estuary enhanced to provide a defined creek path that assists returning adult salmon gain access through a broader range of tides (2014).
Two rearing ponds, providing overwintering habitat for juvenile coho and year-round habitat for cutthroat trout, constructed in Hay Park (2003) and Memorial Park (2012)
Annual spawner salmon surveys (since 2006)
Concrete baffles installed in the lower culverted section from Marine Drive (2001)
Tailed frog study in the upper watershed (1998)
Two concrete fish ladders installed above Marine Drive in Memorial Park (circa. 1995)
Watershed Summary
Area: 5.1 km2 Length: 4.94 km Orientation: Northeast-southwest Elevation range: 0 – 1130 m
Characteristics
Second largest watershed in West Vancouver.
Originates on Black Mountain Plateau.
Flows down forested mountainside where it is joined by water from Dick Creek and Eagle Lake, Whyte Creek and Whyte Lake, and several small tributaries. Emerges in urban area at Cranley Drive, flows between Cranley Drive and Bluebell Drive, under Marine Drive and beside Telegraph Trail before discharging into Fisherman’s Cove at Thunderbird Marina.
Watershed uses
Residential: approximately 90 houses in the watershed
Fish hatchery: Nelson Creek Hatchery, built in 1991 about 300 metres upstream of Cranley Drive, raises chum and coho for West Vancouver creeks
Parks: Nelson Canyon Park, Whyte Lake Park
Water supply: Water is diverted to Eagle Lake from main stem and gathered from Dick Creek tributary for West Vancouver municipal water
Fish: coho and chum to Cranley Drive impasse, cutthroat throughout, steelhead to Marine Drive
Watershed projects
Baffles added to open box culvert at Marine Drive (2011)
Concrete fish jump pools added at creek mouth (2001)
Baffles installed in box culvert at Marine Drive (1999) and in the culvert at the creek mouth on Thunderbird Marina property (1997)
Annual spawner salmon surveys (since 1997)
Stream mapping by West Vancouver streamkeepers (1997)
Stocked with coho and chum (since 1991)
Series of drops and pools created with large boulders in the lower 100 metre section (1972)
Watershed Summary
Area: 2.6 km2 Length: 4.5 km Orientation: North-south Elevation Range: 0 – 980 m
Characteristics
Fifth largest watershed in West Vancouver.
Originates on southern slopes of Hollyburn Mountain in Cypress Provincial Park as an ephemeral (seasonal) creek in the cross-country ski area.
Flows down forested mountainside, passing under the Cypress Bowl Road several times before reaching urban development and the Upper Levels Highway. Continues between 28th and 29th streets, under Marine Drive, a CN Rail overpass and Belleview Avenue before discharging to Burrard Inlet.
The creek is largely open from the Upper Levels Highway to the ocean, with culverts only at Marine Drive and Bellevue Avenue.
Watershed uses
Residential: from Cypress Bowl Road to Burrard Inlet, a distance of approximately 2.0 kilometres
Parks: Cypress Provincial Park, Chelsea Close Park
Recreational: Cypress Mountain cross-country ski area, Hollyburn municipal cabins, Trans Canada Trail and other hiking trails, and mountain biking
Fish: coho, chum and pink salmon and cutthroat trout
Water licence held by private citizen
Watershed projects
Estuary enhanced to create a defined creek path that assists returning adult salmon to gain access over a broader range of tides (2015). Read more
Annual spawner salmon surveys (since 2006)
Baffles added to culvert under railway located north of Bellevue Avenue (2003)
Concrete fish ladder constructed on the south side of Marine Drive (2001)
Baffles added to culvert at Bellevue Avenue (1998)
Watershed Summary
Area: 1.0 km2 Length: 1.8 km Orientation: Northeast-southwest Elevation Range: 20 – 290 m
Characteristics
Fourteenth largest watershed in West Vancouver.
Originates in two branches: the west branch in Cypress Park Estates and the east branch on Caulfield Plateau. Branches merge near the Sahalee Trail at the CN Rail trestle.
Flows under Westport Road, past Eagle Harbour Primary School, under Marine Drive and through Parc Verdun. Creek then continues through 130 m of culvert before emerging to join Eagle Creek 140 m upstream of its mouth.
Watershed almost entirely within urban development.
Watershed uses
Residential: approximately 535 houses
Commercial: Caufeild Shopping Centre
Schools: Rockridge Secondary, Eagle Harbour Primary
Recreational: Sahalee Trail and others, Parc Verdun, Woodburn Park
Fish: coho and chum primarily and pink salmon rarely in lower reaches, cutthroat trout to Westport Road
Watershed projects
Boulder clusters added to break up flow over a length of 50 metres downstream from Marine Drive (2013)
Baffles added to 130-metre culvert under Keith Road, allowing salmon to access habitat in Parc Verdun (2013)
Rain garden built and debris rack reworked in Parc Verdun
Annual spawner salmon surveys (since 1997)
Stream surveyed by West Vancouver streamkeepers (1997)
Stocked with coho and, occasionally, chum fry (since 1996)