Nile Creek Enhancement Society

Our History

In the Beginning

Nile Creek was known to local residents as the Pink River, due to the huge numbers of Pink Salmon. Combined with commercial fishing, logging and loss of essential habitat, by 1994, there were no Pinks, few Coho and only some Cutthroat Trout left.

When development further threatened the creek, an idea for the rehabilitation and enhancement of Nile Creek was born. This led to the formation of the Nile Creek Enhancement Society (NCES), which incorporated as a non-profit society in August of 1996. Charitable status came later.

With only a 0.6 percent survival rate, we release one million pink salmon every year. We want to achieve a self-supporting population.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) recommended we incubate Pinks, as they attract larger Salmonids. A qualified biologist's assessment led to an incubator box being built in the fall of 1996 with money from DFO. The project began with 568,000 Pink eggs from the Quinsam River Hatchery in Campbell River.

1997 - 2006

In 1997, silt and debris from a sand slide, caused by construction of the new Inland Highway, smothered existing fry. In 1998, a 700 meter side channel was built with a donation from the Steelhead Society and a settlement with Department of Highways. This channel still remains valuable habitat for spawning salmon.

In January 1998, a 16' X 24' shelter was built over the incubation box with funds and labour donated by Mid-Island Castaways Fly Fishing Club.

In 1999, NCES volunteers planted low-growing native trees, donated by BC Hydro, that would provide shade, bank stability and food for the fish. Over one thousand trees and the same number of native shrubs have now been planted along the side channel. A 600 meter extension side channel was built, several rearing ponds were enlarged and additional spawning gravel was added. The overflow from the existing water line that supplied the incubator box was directed to the side channel. The extension of this side channel and the addition of more rearing ponds began in 2001. In the summer of 2003, existing rearing ponds were enlarged.

2007 - Present

We put in a groyne at the Thames Creek estuary in 2007 to prevent the stream from being blocked due to winter storms. This allows the salmon to leave the stream without help in the spring.

In 2007, the Nile Creek Enhancement Society received the Canadian Environmental Restoration and Rehabilitation Gold Award from Canadian Geographic and the Government of Canada.

In 2008, we began an annual net pen project at Deep Bay Marina to give about 260,000 fry time to increase in size before releasing them for their migration.

NCES started a long-term project planting kelp in the local area to re-establish the kelp forests for habitat for returning salmon. In May, 2008 was the first annual community education festival, called, "The River Never Sleeps", which is done in collaboration with two other local streamkeeper groups.

Over the years, we have hatched and released over 12,000,000 Pinks and are seeing huge returns. As well, we are seeing increases in Coho, Chum, Sea-run Cutthroat Trout and Dolly Vardens in the creek. We continue to incubate up to one million pink salmon each year.

Who

Nile Creek Enhancement Society has been supported by countless hours of work by local volunteers. There has also been local, community support resulting in donated time, materials and equipment from local service clubs and businesses. Funding for the many projects and activities has come from donations and grants from societies and companies. We appreciate the support of:

• Friends of the Environment Foundation,
• the Steelhead Society,
• Canada Nature Trust,
• Pacific Salmon Foundation,
• DFO,
• BC Hydro,
• the Public Conservation Assistant Fund and
• Fisheries Renewal BC,
• as well as private donations.

The NCES volunteers continue their dedicated work to protect and maintain not only the six area creeks, but also the marine habitat.

We work diligently in collaborating with other like-minded people and groups such as:

• World Fisheries Trust,
• Trout Unlimited Canada and
• Vancouver Island University,
• among others to help educate the public.

Our Goal

Our goal is to instill in people an understanding of our place in this ecosystem and our role in its protection along with the goal of creating hope for our future and future generations to come.