Rodgers Creek

Complete Profile

Rodgers Creek
Watershed

Area: 2.6 km²
Length: 4.5 km
Orientation: North - South
Elevation Range: 0 – 980 m

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:

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.

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:

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