Hutchinson Creek Watershed

Hutchinson Creek Watershed
Summary

Hutchinson Creek originates as sidehill runoff just above Panorama Drive and flows south. It soon enters a series of storm sewers near Panorama Drive which redistribute the flow into Turner, Hutchinson, and Noons Creeks. The stream 'daylights' about 750 meters downstream and flows south-southwest for another 750 meters until it enters the Port Moody tidal flats of Burrard Inlet.
The Hutchinson Creek watershed is bordered to the north and west by the Turners Creek watershed, to the north and east by the Noons Creek watershed, and to the south by the Port Moody Arm of Burrard Inlet.

Fish: resident Coastal Cutthroat Troat (Onchorhynchus clarki clarki) inhabit this stream. Coho (Onchorhynchus kisutch) and Chum (Onchorhynchus keta) were reintroduced in 1990 and are supplemented by the Hutchinson Creek Project.
Wildlife: various species inhabit this watershed.
Vegetation: Western hemlock, Western red cedar, and Douglas fir dominate the stand composition.
Parks: Lower Hutchinson Ravine, Heritage Mountain Park, and a section of Shoreline Park are all within this watershed.
Schools: Heritage Elementary School is within this watershed.
Residential: predominantly single-family residential houses with some condominiums.
Other: CP Rail has a right-of-way through this watershed.

Hutchinson Creek has numerous culverts which are impassable to fish, the most significant being a culvert below the CP Rail right of way which prevents upstream fish movement.
Approximately half of this watershed has been developed, and stormwater drainage constitutes a significant percentage of streamflows. This has the effect of decreasing base flows, increasing peak flows, and negatively impacting water quality.
At least one provincially listed bird species and several provincially listed plant communities inhabit this watershed.
Marine sediments at the creek mouth have been severely contaminatied by prior industrial activities.

Small scale stream enhancement and fish stocking is being carried out by the Hutchinson Creek Project
Ongoing water quality and fecal coliform monitoring by Port Moody Ecological Society.