Malcolm Creek and Ch’ḵw’elhp-Gibson Creek are small salmon bearing creeks on the Sunshine Coast. Many of the culverts on the Sunshine Coast are aging and are barriers to spawning salmon. SC Streamkeepers Society has joined SC Conservation Association, MOTT, DFO, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), DFO and the Town of Gibsons to form a working group that meets monthly.

Malcolm Creek Culvert, Roberts Creek, BC

Malcolm Creek is in xwesam (Roberts Creek). The culvert that needs to be replaced due to excessive rust and huge holes (see photos) and also it being a barrier to fish passage due to the height of bedrock. This culvert is located at the foot of Metcalfe Road @ Roy Road (off Lower Road). There are many metres of wonderful gravel above the culvert that provides a good nursery for juvenile fry for the first 1 1/2 years of their life in their native stream.

Malcolm Creek has both chum and coho returning each year. We have seen coho trying to get past the culvert, and despite this challenge we have also found beautiful juvenile coho smolts above the culvert in March 2024! (See photo)

Malcolm Creek, Roberts Creek, BC (near foot bridge at foot of Metcalfe Rd @ Roy Rd.)

Coho smolt in upper Malcolm Creek above rusted out culvert. This is encouraging to see as this is proving to be a healthy nursery area for coho fry that they spend up to 1 1/2 years of the first part of their life cycle. Photo Credit: S. Samples, Malcolm Creek, March 2024

The photo above and below illustrate the state of the Malcolm Creek culvert, very rusted with large and small holes that are dangerous to both spawning salmon and the smolts journey to the ocean. Photo Credits: S. Samples

Ch’ḵw’elhp-Gibson Creek Culvert , Gibsons, BC

“It is unknown if the culvert under Marine Drive did initially allow for easy Coho salmon passage. To date, the scoured plunge pool at the downstream end is further compromised by a large boulder prohibiting returning salmon to effectively jump up into the culvert against the oncoming flow of water. The metal closed bottom culvert was installed without baffles and concrete has since been used to patch the corroded bottom. Both these conditions do nothing to slow down extreme water flows; and they further restrict any salmon’s ability to reach spawning grounds should any manage to enter the culvert. Replacing the failing culvert with one that supports fish passage to upstream spawning habitat is long overdue. Once the culvert is replaced and the Creek has adjusted to its new channel, fish habitat can be restored downstream both upstream, and downstream of Marine Drive.

CGC is in Gibsons extends approximately 6.5 km from its headwaters on Mt. Elphinstone (~1170m above sea level) to its mouth in west Howe Sound. It drains water from about 300ha of forest lands on the slope of Mt. Elphinstone then flows through the residential areas within the Town of Gibsons and West Howe Sound Regional Area of the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD). The creek flattens out in its last ~300m and drains Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) Ch’kw’elp Reserve before entering marine waters. Gibson Creek is entirely within the BC Aquifer 560 Recharge Area.” – SC Conservation Association.

The Ch’ḵw’elhp-Gibson Creek culvert above (at Marine Drive, Gibsons BC). This culvert is a barrier to salmon and native trout as they are unable to maneuver that high of a jump. Photo Credit: S. Samples