ARPSES Hatchery activities are focused on three creeks that drain into the Fraser River: Clayburn, Stoney and McLennan.

Stoney Creek is an important salmon-bearing stream on the west side of Sumas Mountain in Abbotsford, BC. Originating from natural springs and groundwater seepages, it drains a 7.6-square-kilometre urban watershed along the western slopes of McKee Peak and the uplands around Ledgeview. Because it flows down through urban areas, it is important for stormwater drainage. Near the foot of the mountain, it flows through a small, forested City park and onto Matsqui Prairie, eventually joining Clayburn Creek before emptying into Matsqui Slough and the Fraser River.

Despite being surrounded by heavy urban development, the creek provides crucial spawning and rearing habitat for coho and chum salmon, coastal cutthroat trout, and the aquatic invertebrates they feed upon. Trails alongside the creek make it a popular local nature area.

ARPSES activities involving Stoney include yearly invertebrate counts, monthly water sampling, weekly spawner counts from mid-October to the end of December, and releases approximately 5,000 smolts in mid-May each year.

Clayburn Creek is a vital salmon-bearing watercourse, draining an extensive watershed of roughly 30 square kilometres. It originates from the high-elevation slopes of McKee Peak and the Straiton area, flowing northwest through the historic village of Clayburn before emptying into Matsqui Slough and the Fraser River. As a critical ecological corridor, it supports essential spawning and rearing habitats for coho, chum, and cutthroat trout. The creek is highly important for local biodiversity, facing continuous conservation efforts to manage urban stormwater runoff, protect streamside riparian zones, and mitigate downstream flood risks in the agricultural lowlands.

ARPSES carries out spawner counts in Clayburn Creek from mid-October to the end of December and conducts a yearly smolt release of approximately 5,000 fish in mid-May.

McLennan Creek drains roughly 31 to 44 square kilometres of predominantly rural and agricultural land in northwest Abbotsford. It originates from groundwater seepages and natural springs in the rural uplands near the boundary with the Township of Langley (around the Aldergrove-Clearbrook area). Flowing northeast through the Matsqui Prairie agricultural lowlands, it empties into the Fraser River via the Glenmore (McLennan Creek) pump station and flood boxes. Despite heavily impacted water quality from agricultural runoff, the creek serves as an important ecological corridor supporting significant wild populations of coho and chum salmon, steelhead, and cutthroat trout.

ARPSES does spawner counts in McLennan Creek from mid-October to the end of December.

Doug, one of our volunteers, walks a creek examining and counting dead salmon. That number is an important statistic and is recorded.

With the assistance of Pacific Streamkeepers, a macroinvertebrate survey is carried out in Stoney Creek: measuring the bankfull width; using a D-net to capture invertebrates; and a giant stonefly larva that was caught in the D-net. (August, 2024)