Jim and Kathryn pole seining in Puntledge Park. Photo by J Gemell
The prolonged drought has even affected Morrison, although to a much smaller extent than some of the other waterways. Jim, Jan and I went ‘fishing’ last week to move 3-4 dozen salmon and a dozen sticklebacks from one of the braids that meander through Puntledge Park back into mainstem Morrison as the braid had become disconnected and was drying out. I rescued a lamprey from a muddy patch that had just dried out as it wriggled away as soon as I reintroduced it to the water. The fish were lively and doing fine but it seemed prudent to move them as there was very little cover from predators and no escape if things got worse over the course of the summer. There was also the potential to kill them by moving them later when they were more stressed than they were at this time. We even saved a one ‘armed’ crayfish and some other critters. The other fish around the pond in Puntledge Park are looking very fat and healthy! They look almost as big as some of the ones that are old enough to go to sea in the Spring and these beasties have most of the year left to continue growing before they head out. They’ll be almost meal-sized before they leave the Creek!
Jan holding the one ‘armed’ crayfish we rescued. Photo by K Clouston
Aug 15 huge turbidity and rust coloured water downstream of the culvert pipe that contains Morrison creek as it flows under first street. Water clear entering the culvert. ?broken culvert? erosion around the culvert? reported to Courtenay city works yard.
So nice to see the work being done near Puntledge Park but the blockage at the Puntledge school yard is still there. It is only an offshoot just upstream from the walking bridge but I have seen the salmon go that way and you can see them at the end of the school yard because they use that branch. Please could a few people just shift some logs and rocks that the kids have put there. I think that would do the trick in clearing a path for the fish. Thanks.