Characteristics:

• Fifth largest watershed in West Vancouver
• Bordered by Pipe Creek and Cypress Creek watersheds in the west and Marr Creek watershed in the east
• Originates on southern slopes of Hollyburn Mountain in Cypress Provincial Park
• Discharges to Burrard Inlet near 28^th Street
• Mainstem and east branch converge downstream of highway, more than other 10 tributaries in the upper watershed
• 41% of watershed above current allowable limit of development at 366m contour, 59% of watershed within allowable limits of development
• 13% of watershed below the highway with a slope of 8%, suitable habitat for coho and cutthroat
• Slope above highway increases to an average of 25%

History:

• Named for James Rodgers whose Tower Hill farm was located at the top of 29^th Street. The farm drew water supply from creek using hydraulic ram
• Cypress Lumber Company created a flume pond on the creek in 1917 and a 1200 metre chute carried shingle bolts down from the logging area above
• Hollyburn Ridge ski and cabin area in the headwaters since 1920’s

Watershed use:

• Residential
• Park: Cypress Provincial Park
• Recreational:
• Hollyburn Ridge cross country ski area operated by Cypress Bowl Recreations in the headwater
• Hollyburn municipal cabins
• Trans Canada Trail and other hiking trails
• mountain biking
• Water licence for 500 gal/day
• Fish: coho salmon to Marine Drive culvert 0.4 km from mouth, cutthroat trout
• Wildlife: diverse populations of mammals, birds and amphibians inhabit the watershed (ie. black bears, raccoons, coyote, amphibians, Great Blue Herons and Kingfishers)
• Cypress Bowl Road, Upper Levels Highway, Marine Drive, Belleview Avenue, B.C. Rail

Concerns:

• Classified as endangered by Fisheries and Oceans Canada due to the effects of urbanization: large amount of impermeable areas, channelization and riparian vegetation loss, and water quality problems
• Fish barriers:
• channelization between Belleview Ave. and ocean causes increased flows and may restrict fish passage under certain conditions
• under Marine Drive due to high velocity and steep slope
• concrete waterfall at Nelson Avenue (2 m high with plunge pool) may be impassable
• cascade at Rosebery Ave (0.75 m with plunge pool) may be passable
• concrete wall and series of log weirs upstream of Rosebery Ave.
• All culverts exceed water flow for safe fish passage
• Lack of riparian vegetation in lower reaches
• Lack of woody debris through good fish habitat areas
• Periodic water quality problems, including:
• siltation in 1997 associated with construction
• fish kill in 1994 due to construction or hot tub discharge
• Future development in upper watershed and associated problems, including:
• increase in imperviousness
• loss of wetlands and tributaries
• construction of storm drain network resulting in altered water quality and quantity
• encroachment into riparian zones
• creek channelization, bank alteration
• increased erosion into creek

Key Interest Groups:

• West Vancouver Streamkeepers
• Federal: Department of Fisheries and Oceans
• Provincial: Ministry of Transportation and Highways; Ministry of Environment Lands and Parks
• District of West Vancouver, District Parks Department
• Altamont Homeowners Association
• British Pacific Properties
• Hollyburn cabin owners
• Cypress Bowl Recreations
• Trans Canada Trail
• Mountain bike association

Watershed Projects:

• Proposal to install fish ladder at Marine Drive, 2001
• Water quality samples taken on Rodgers Creek mainstem, North Shore Streamkeepers, 1999
• Cement curb baffles installed in the culvert under Belleview Ave, 1998
• Inventory of drainage system, water quality samples, vertebrate sampling, habitat assessment at 5 locations above Upper Levels Highway, McElhanney Consulting Services Ltd., 1998
• Vegetation and wildlife studies in headwaters, Talisman Land Resource Consultants Ltd., 1997
• Mapping, habitat assessment, identification of sites for enhancement in urban area (Streamkeeper Module 1 and 2), BCIT student study, 1997
• Terrain, soil and vegetation inventory, Norecol, Dames and Moore, 1996
• Habitat inventory in urban area, BCIT student study, 1995
• Terrain, vegetation and wildlife studies in Cypress Provincial Park, Talisman Land Resource Consultants, 1992
• Stocked with coho fry 1987 to 1992, coho fry and unfed fry 2000
• Incubation box at Palmerston Avenue until 1990; SEP transplanted 55,000 Capilano coho eggs, 1980 to 1983; 60,000 Chehalis chum eggs 1984 to 1986

Recommendations:

• Continue collecting information on habitat of Rodgers Creek
• fish enumeration
• benthic invertebrates
• water quality
• Work with interested homeowners to create productive fish habitat
• plant native riparian vegetation
• explore potential restoration projects
• Evaluate restoration projects upstream of Marine Drive
• fish ladder over or replacement of concrete waterfall at Nelson Avenue
• creation of off-channel habitat
• incorporation of large woody debris
• Increase public awareness and appreciation for the Rodgers Creek watershed in association with the Altamont Homeowners Association
• Encourage municipality to establish enforceable erosion control by-laws to reduce sediment transport to creek during house construction or renovation

Available Sources of Information:

Maps: TRIM/UTM 92G035

Web Sites:

• http://www.pskf.ca The Pacific Streamkeepers Federation
• www.bcfisheries.gov.bc.ca/fishinv/fiss.html Fisheries Information Summary System (FISS)
• www.bcfisheries.gov.bc.ca/fishinv/index.html includes FISS, Survey Data, Base Maps, Methods
• http://www-heb.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/English/maps.htm includes Fish Wizard, Fisheries Project Registry, SHIM Data with Orthophotos, Wild Threatened, Endangered and Lost Streams of the Lower Fraser Valley
• www.shim.bc.ca Sensitive Habitat Information and Mapping
• www.elp.gov.bc.ca:8000/pls/wtrwhse/water_licences.input water licence information

Reports:

• Task Force Inquiry into Drainage Policies and Problems. District of West Vancouver, 1977
• District of West Vancouver Drainage Survey. Dayton and Knight Ltd., 1973
• Stream Habitat Survey for Rodgers Creek. Hunter, M. and Lange, K, 1997
• Creeks in West Vancouver. Hugh Johnston?, 1990
• Lower Fraser Valley Stream Review, Vol. 1. Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Fraser River Action Plan, 1999
• Wild, Threatened, Endangered and Lost Streams of the Lower Fraser Valley, 1997. Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Summary report. Fraser River Action Plan. Prepared by Precision Identification Biological Consultants.
• West Vancouver Streams: Rodgers Creek. Munro Environmental Consulting, 1998
• Rodgers Creek Habitat Inventory, Final Report. Henderson, M., 1995
• North Shore Streams: Nutrient Impacts. North Shore Streamkeepers, 1999
• Summary of 1998 Activities. West Vancouver Streamkeepers, 1998
• Cypress Provincial Park Hydrology Study and Master Drainage Plan. McElhanney Consulting Services Ltd., 1998
• CRA Master Plan, 1996. Environmental Planning Assessment. Talisman Land Resource Consultants, 1997
• Environmental Overview Assessment of Cypress Provincial Park Water- Sewerline Link: Final Report. Norecol, Dames and Moore, 1996
• Cypress Bowl Recreations’ Master Concept Plan to Enhance Services, Facilities and Recreational Opportunities for Visitors to Cypress Provincial Park: Environmental Assessment. Talisman Land Resource Consultants, 1992