Cypress Creek Watershed

Cypress Creek Watershed
Summary

Largest watershed in West Vancouver
Originates in numerous small lakes, wetlands and tributaries on east Black Mountain plateau, Mount Strachan and Hollyburn Ridge in Cypress Provincial Park. Flows southwest to Cypress Falls Park where it changes direction to southerly. It proceeds under Almondel Road, the Upper Levels Highway, a BC Rail trestle, flows west of Cypress Park School and under Marine Drive before being discharged into Burrard Inlet near Pilot Cove and Stearman Beach.

Residential
Commercial developments include the Cypress Bowl Recreations alpine ski development and the western portion of the Nordic ski area in the upper watershed and Cypress Park shopping area on Marine Drive in the lower watershed
Cypress Falls Park and Cypress Bowl Provincial Park
Water supply use includes use by Cypress Bowl Recreations (4 water licence applications at 126,000+ gal/day) and the intake for water supply for West Vancouver Laboratories (2 water licences at 60,000+ gal/day)
Coho and chinook to Keith Road, chum, cutthroat, steelhead, rainbow trout in Yew Lake

Classified as endangered by Fisheries and Oceans Canada due to development in the lower watershed, dredging of lower reaches, and development for recreation in the upper watershed
Channel dredging below Marine Drive has simplified the stream channel
Water withdrawal includes use by Cypress Bowl Recreations, the intake for West Vancouver Laboratories and the possible future diversion of water from a Cypress Creek tributary to Eagle Lake to supplement the municipal water supply
Flooding occurred in 1975 and 1983
Future residential and commercial development in upper watershed and associated problems, including an increase in imperviousness, the loss of wetlands and tributaries, the construction of storm drain networks resulting in altered water quality and quantity, creek channelization and bank alteration and increased erosion into the creek