Lynn Creek Watershed Summary

Blueridge Creek Watershed
Summary

bordered by Seymour River and Mosquito Creek Watersheds in North Vancouver, BC
originates in the protected Lynn Headwaters Regional Park; discharges into Burrard Inlet
main tributaries: Keith, Hastings, Kennedy, Wickenden, Hanes, and Coliseum Creeks
8 % impervious area (8 km² in total) for entire watershed; 34 % impervious area in Lower Lynn due to heavy residential
and industrial development (GVRD, 1998?)

was the water supply for the residents of North Vancouver from 1883 to 1981
an inactive landfill is located within the watershed boundary; runoff was collected and piped to a treatment plant until 1999; the runoff is now collected by a system of pipes and ditches before it enters the landfill leachate, and is discharged into Lynn Creek

Human: trail system and bridges exist for recreational use and creek is used for swimming; residential; industrial; and train and automobile transportation
Wildlife: abundant and diverse populations of bird, amphibian and mammal inhabit the headwaters and the less developed portions of the lower watershed (eg. Blackbear, Northern Pygmy Owl, Pileated Woodpecker, Western Red-Backed Salamander)
Fish: Lynn Creek up to Lynn Falls and the tributaries support coho, pink, chum and chinook salmon; cutthroat, Dolly Varden and steelhead trout

Classified as endangered in the lower two-thirds of the watershed (DFO, 1998)
Morphology: complete loss of many tributary streams to urbanization; channelization in flood-hazard areas, along erosion-prone banks and at bridge crossings; bedload deposits; bank erosion in back yards where riparian vegetation has been removed; dredging
Water Quality: sediments introduced by channel erosion, land slides and human development; chlorine spills from swimming pools; direct discharge of contaminated storm water into Lynn and tributaries (oil, grease, gas, paint, etc); Keith, Hastings and Thames Creeks have serious non-point source pollution; presence of iron oxide
Hydrology: increase in peak flow frequencies and magnitudes due to increases in effective impervious area.
Riparian Areas: encroachment by development and loss of riparian vegetation
Other: complete loss of estuary due to urban/industrial development; culvert crossings reduce fish access to tributary streams