Century-old Comox farm sees salmon restoration
Century-old Comox farm sees salmon restoration
This story originally appeared in the Fall/Winter 2026 edition of Salmon Steward, the Pacific Salmon Foundation’s print magazine.
Five years ago, the Brooklyn Creek Watershed Society near Comox on Vancouver Island almost shut down for good. That was until they received a $19,850 PSF grant, allowing them to launch and sustain critical restoration efforts in Brooklyn Creek. Since 2021, the project has drawn in an impressive number of volunteers — and salmon — to the stream.
“That initial grant from the Pacific Salmon Foundation changed things. It invigorated our organization, allowed us to bring new members on board, and provided long-term stability for our project. It was a turning point,” says Christine Hodgson, past president of the Society.
With more than 100 volunteers, additional PSF grants, and support from local businesses, the Brooklyn Creek stewards are now overseeing the project’s fifth year in the stream’s upper reaches.
The latest phase will further revitalize coho habitat within Birkdale Farm, a historic, family-run farm once known for its grass-fed Ayrshire dairy cows.
“This area of Brooklyn Creek had great potential, but it was a homogeneous, scoured channel prone to flash flooding and drying out. Our goal was to bring back the diverse habitat features that coho need to rear and spawn successfully,” says John Neilson, the Society’s current president.
Dave Davies, Vanessa Scott, and John Neilson – members of the Brooklyn Creek Watershed Society – at Birkdale Farm. Photo: Brandon Deepwell
The stream’s riparian corridors at Birkdale Farm had become overwhelmed by invasive species, and its channel had lost critical complexity due to decades of straightening and dredging.
Local crews have since added more than 15 pools, 20 large woody debris structures, 300 cubic metres of spawning gravel, and 4,000 native plants that are now outcompeting the invasives.
These efforts build on downstream restoration completed in earlier years, which cleared the way for coho to move freely upstream into Birkdale Farm. Pink salmon also spawn in the lower reaches.
The restoration project is unique in benefiting from strong support from the landowner, clear lines of communication with local government, and generous contributions from local businesses.
“There are still some members of the public who are surprised to hear that salmon are in this tiny stream, so we’re making sure that everyone is aware of its value. We’ve got a jewel here, and we want to save it. It’s been very rewarding to see a healthier watershed that is appreciated by the community,” says Neilson.
The number of young coho counted in the stream this spring was the highest in 15 years. Building on last year’s success, creek walkers expect to see returning adult coho in every newly restored area at Birkdale Farm this fall.
PSF is proud to have supported Brooklyn Creek streamkeepers with $357.9k in funding since 2007, generating more than $1.1 million in total value for salmon conservation. Every year, PFS’s Community Salmon Program supports more than 150 local stewardship projects across B.C. and the Yukon.
