Between Englishman River Falls and the Hatchery, the flow in the river drops by approximately 6%; this suggests the Englishman River loses water, thus recharging the fractured bedrock aquifer.
Most of the bedrock wells depict a stable groundwater elevation trend; however, there are two wells where a decreasing trend and one well where an increasing trend has been observed.
Beginning in the summer of 2014, our members began a systematic study of the creek’s physical and biological features, using a method developed by the Government of BC called the Urban Salmon Habitat Program. In 2015, we completed the survey in the upper reaches of the creek (above Highway 19). With up to 20 members contributing hundreds of hours measuring habitats in conditions that resembled a jungle, we now had a better idea of what was happening to Shelly Creek. Two of the major findings of the study were: 1. The creek’s pools between Blower Road and Wildgreen Way have been filled in with sediments as a result of erosion of the creek’s stream banks from high (winter) flows. 2. Much of the 2 km of creek above Highway 19 has been excavated. This has resulted in significant changes to the natural hydrology of the watershed. Clickhereto read the complete report, Shelly Creek Stream Assessment and Fish Habitat Survey Report-2014 and 2015.
In an effort to understand how these changes to the stream’s hydrology can be modified to improve the stability of the creek, and hence the water quality, MVIHES hired one of British Columbia’s experts on water engineering, Jim Dumont, P.Eng., to study the creek and provide us with a report. The report is complete and is titled: Shelly Creek Water Balance and Sediment Reduction Plan, Technical Summary.
Yellow iris is a beautiful plant that takes over and destroys wetlands. Read about how volunteers from MVIHES and other conservation groups are eradicating yellow iris in Shelly Creek.
Watch the volunteers in action in the Shaw GO! video on youtube.
Two of the major findings of the study were:
Yellow iris is a beautiful plant that takes over and destroys wetlands. 