Characteristics
- Pierard originates north of Burrill Avenue and flows south through a residential neighbourhood crossing Lynn Valley Road, Westover Road and Allan Road before flowing into Thames Creek
- Pierard Creek is bordered to the west by Thames Creek Watershed and to the east by the Hoskins Creek Watershed
- 21% impervious surface in the Hastings Creek Watershed (GVRD, 1999)
- 54% of the Hastings Creek Watershed had forest cover (GVRD, 1999)
History
- Hastings Creek and its numerous tributaries made up the prime spawning area for most of the Lynn’s migratory runs of cutthroat, steelhead, coho and chinook. This watershed contained excellent spawning and rearing habitat for salmon and trout, and had strong coho runs.
- 1860’s - The first significant non-native settlement began as the Douglas-fir and Western white pine were cut for spars or sailing ship masts and exported to Britain for Royal Navy ships. Lynn Valley became known as spar forest as it provided spars 70 feet long and 13 feet in diameter
- 1875 – Logging for red cedar bolts became the main activity
- 1899 - First home in Lynn Valley built by J.M. Fromme in a clearing from the logging (Eikos Design Group, 1978) (Draycott, W. M., 1919)
- Early 1900’s – Accidental introduction of white pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola) results in the loss of most of the Western white pine on the North Shore
- 1903 – Fromme subdivides his lot selling 60 blocks at $25 per acre
- 1904 – 1st school opens on May 20th
- Lynn Valley Population: 1909 = 200; 1919 = 1400; 1971 = 25,000
- Late 1940’s – Balsam woody aphid (Chermes piceae) is introduced impacting the Amabilis fir
- 1960-70’s - Westlynn area at mouth of Hastings developed as residential area.
Watershed Use
- Fish: Cutthroat Trout
- Wildlife: Various species including raccoons, mink, river otters, black bears, Belted Kingfishers, Dippers, Great Blue Herons, Common Mergansers, Harlequin Ducks, and Swallows (Tera Environmental Consultants Ltd.)
- Vegetation: Coastal Western Hemlock, dry subzone. Remaining native trees in watershed include western hemlock, douglas-fir, western red cedar, big leaf maple, and red alder up to about 120 years old
- Schools: Upper Lynn Elementary
- Parks: Kilmer Park
Concerns
- 12 storm drains flow into Pierard Creek
- Status: Endangered - due to riparian removal, urbanization, culverting and degraded water quality
- 21% impervious area in watershed (GVRD, 1999)
- Many non-native and aggressive plant species have been introduced into the Pierard riparian zone including English ivy, Himalayan blackberry, Holly, and Japanese knotweed (NSSK, 2001)
- The headwaters are culverted (NSSK, 2001)
Key Interest Groups/Government Bodies
- Municipal Gov’t: District of North Vancouver (DNV); District Parks Department; Lynn Canyon Ecology Centre
- Regional Gov’t: GVRD (regional parks, sewers and air quality); GVWD
- Provincial Gov’t: Ministry of Transportation and Highways; Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks
- Federal Gov’t: Department of Fisheries and Oceans; Environment Canada; Transport Canada
- Local NGO’s: North Shore Streamkeepers; North Shore Fish and Game Club; Pacific Streamkeepers Federation; Lynn Valley Community Association
- BC Hydro
- School District 44
- North (Shore/Vancouver) Historical Society
Watershed Projects and Good News
- The culvert under Allan Road was replaced during the summer of 1999 or 2000 and is a bridge-style culvert which leaves the substrate intact and allows for fish migration
- Pierard has relatively good riparian habitat between Draycott Road and Westover Drive
Recommendations and Suggested Actions
- Development options should consider the presence of a creek an enviable feature rather than an obstacle (Brooks Planning Group Ltd., 1976).
- Protect all stream corridors as open landscape features on both private and public property (Brooks Planning Group Ltd., 1976).
- Roadway and pedestrian bridges over creek ravines should be open-under structures where practical, rather than covered roadway culverts (Brooks Planning Group Ltd., 1976).
Bibliography and Available Sources of Information
BC Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks. TRIM/UTM Maps.
Brooks Planning Group Ltd. (1976). Lynn Valley Replot Scheme Landscape Site Reconnaissance Site Number 50."
District of North Vancouver. Storm Drain Maps. Map Pages: J-13; J-12; J-11 and J-10
Draycot, Walter. (February 2000). Early Days in Lynn Valley. North Vancouver, BC: Contact Printing and Mailing Ltd.
GVRD. (August 1999). Assessment of Current and Future GVS&DD Area Watershed and Catchment Conditions. Prepared for: Liquid Waste Management Plan. Stormwater Management Technical Advisory Task Group.
North Shore Streamkeepers. (Spring 2001). Preliminary Watershed Assessments of 12 North Shore Creeks. Unpubl.
Steward, Barry. "Lynn Valley’s Creeks and Fish Habitats". (1975). North Vancouver: Lynn Canyon Ecology Centre. (North Shore Archives).
Tera Environmental Consultants Ltd. Seymour-Lynn Vegetation and Wildlife Species List.
Brooks Planning Group Ltd. (1976). Lynn Valley Replot Scheme Landscape Site Reconnaissance Site Number 50."
District of North Vancouver. Storm Drain Maps. Map Pages: J-13; J-12; J-11 and J-10
Draycot, Walter. (February 2000). Early Days in Lynn Valley. North Vancouver, BC: Contact Printing and Mailing Ltd.
GVRD. (August 1999). Assessment of Current and Future GVS&DD Area Watershed and Catchment Conditions. Prepared for: Liquid Waste Management Plan. Stormwater Management Technical Advisory Task Group.
North Shore Streamkeepers. (Spring 2001). Preliminary Watershed Assessments of 12 North Shore Creeks. Unpubl.
Steward, Barry. "Lynn Valley’s Creeks and Fish Habitats". (1975). North Vancouver: Lynn Canyon Ecology Centre. (North Shore Archives).
Tera Environmental Consultants Ltd. Seymour-Lynn Vegetation and Wildlife Species List.