Mossom Creek Watershed
Summary
Characteristics
- Forested riparian ecosystem with a tidal flat at the outlet to Burrard Inlet.
- Source is near Eagle Mountain. Flow is southwest towards Burrard Inlet.
- Salmon are considered to use only the lower portions of Mossom Creek (downstream of East Road)
- Above east Road this creek is crossed by 2 BC Hydro transmission line right of ways. Both are 100 m wide with associated gravel access roads
Watershed Use
- Ownership: City of Port Moody, Government of Canada, Imperial Oil Company, Various private owners.
- Landuse: Industrial, Residential, Parks and Recreation, Agriculture, Forestry, CP Right of Way.
- Fish: Coho, Chum, Chinook and Pink Salmon; Coastal Cutthroat Trout; Three-spine Stickleback.
- Vegetation: Western Hemlock – Flat moss; Douglas fir/Western hemlock – Salal; Douglas fir – Swordfern; Western redcedar – Swordfern; Western redcedar – Salmonberry
Concerns
- Logging and associated access road construction have modified the hydrology of the watershed. There is evidence of heavy runoff flowing sown access roads, and into storm drain system (top of Wyndham Crescent.)
- Urbanization has affected the watershed through the addition of proportion of impervious areas
- Ditching in the Anmore area and storm sewers in Port Moody, act to divert surface drainage away from the Mossom Creek watershed.
- Critical fish habitat within the first 1 km of the stream from Burrard Inlet.
- Industrial activities in Burrard Inlet have previously polluted the marine environment receiving water from Mossom Creek.
Watershed Projects
- Burrard Inlet Marine Enhancement Society (BIMES) and Centennial High School operate a fish hatchery 1.2 km upstream from Burrard Inlet, since 1976. Both chum and coho salmon are reared and released.