WHEN REPLYING PLEASE STATE

OUR FILE No. 40-020-02

YOUR FILE No.
THE GUVERNMENT OF
THE PROVINCE OF B2.T1Sh COLEMALA

MINISTRY OF RECREATION AND CONSERVATION

FISH AND WILDLIFE BRANCH
4240 Manor Street
Burnaby, B.C.

V5G 1B2

COUNC

January 25, 1977 FEB 7 1977

The Mayor and Council
City of Port Coquitlam
City Hall

2272 McAllister

Port Coquitlam, B.C.
V3C 2A8

Re: Coquitlam River Water Management Study

Dear Sir:

We are becoming increasingly concerned about the number of proposed develop-
ments within the Coquitlam River system (including it's tributaries) that have
been referred to this office during the last six months or so.

The Coquitlam River and many of it’s tributaries such as Scott, Hoy and Maple
Creek have been badly degraded by such activities as gravel removal, flood
control, housing developments as well as a host of other less tangible factors
associated with urban development. This degradation has been manifested in a
dramatic decline in the salmon and trout populations that utilize the Coquitlam
system. In the 1930's, thousands of pink, chum and coho salmon and steelhead
trout spawned throughout the system. Now the pink salmon run has completely
disappeared and coho and chum salmon average only a few hundred spawners a
year. Steelhead trout have not suffered to the same extent as salmon, although
their numbers have also declined.

The Coquitlam River Water Management Study presently being conducted under the
auspices of the B.C. Water Resources Service is a unique opportunity to try to
reverse this trend. The major objective of the study is to develop recommenda~
tions to improve management of the water resources of the Coquitlam River for
such uses as flood control, fisheries and outdoor recreation, in addition to
hydro-electric power generation and domestic water supply - the present major
water uses. It involves an assessment of the influence that water-related land
use activities such as logging, gravel removal and urban development are having
on the Coquitlam River and it's tributaries. It is scheduled for completion

this spring.

seokees