Burnaby Waterways & Streamkeeper Groups

Within its geographic boundaries, Burnaby has over 60 creeks, two lakes, and a river.

Click to see the City of Burnaby’s maps that identify the Watersheds and see the Waterways of Burnaby.

Burnaby Watersheds     WaterwaysofBurnaby2019-frontWaterwaysofBurnaby2019-back

Active streamkeeper and watershed stewardship groups in Burnaby include:

  • Beecher Creek Streamkeepers – Beecher Creek is a tributary of Still Creek that flows southward from north Burnaby and is home to a resident population of Cutthroat trout and Chum and Coho salmon that return to spawn each fall in the lower reaches. The Beecher Creek Streamkeepers are a smaller group of mostly family and friends that have been active since the mid-2000s. Each year the group undertakes several invasive plant removals and native planting activities in the watershed with the help of the local scout troop.
    Contact:  Jim Atwater
  • Byrne Creek Streamkeepers Societybyrne_creek_streamkeepers_logo_300
    These volunteers monitor the health of Byrne Creek that drains a large urban watershed along the south slope of Burnaby, BC, runs through a beautiful ravine park and spawning habitat, and into the Fraser River.  Streamkeepers help maintain the creek through community projects and public education, and monitor its rejuvenated populations of coho salmon, chum salmon and cutthroat trout.
    Contact:  info@byrnecreek.org
  • Eagle Creek Streamkeepers
    EagleCreekStreamkeepersEagle Creek begins on Burnaby Mountain where it is fed by a large watershed, runs through Montecito and the nearby Squint Lake, through Burnaby Mountain Golf Course, culverted under Broadway and Lougheed Highway, runs through Charles Rummel Park, along Warner Loat Park to Burnaby Lake. Salmon are a native part of Eagle Creek’s ecosystem. The members of the Eagle Creek Streamkeeper Society protect, preserve and enhance the Eagle Creek watershed habitat, through environmental education and volunteer involvement.
    Contact:  Facebook page
  • Silver Creek Streamkeepers
    Silver Creek Streamkeepers is a small volunteer group of mostly family and friends that have been caring for Silver Creek since 2002.  Silver Creek watershed is sandwiched between the Stoney Creek and Eagle Creek watersheds, with its headwaters on the south facing slope of Burnaby Mountain and its outlet at the Brunette River just above Cariboo Dam.  The focus of the Silver Creek Streamkeepers is the open channel downstream of the Firehall near Costco, along the BNSF railway tracks, to its outlet at the Brunette River.  That portion of the Silver Creek is home to coho and chum salmon, cutthroat trout, western painted turtles, north western salamanders, beaver, coyotes, herons, and the occasional eagle.  Projects have included streamside planting of trees and shrubs, removal of invasive plants, salmon release with DFO, garbage removal, and helping Burnaby get a large natural setback and pond through a major development.
  • Stoney Creek Environment Committee StoneyCreek_scec_cmyk-500x283

    The streamkeepers of the Stoney Creek Environment Committee conduct a variety of educational, monitoring, and enhancement activities on Stoney Creek, which has its headwaters on Burnaby Mountain and runs through neighbourhoods and parks on its way to the Brunette River. Public involvement and new volunteers welcome!
    Contact: info@scec.ca

Another group that has been vital to the restoration of the Brunette River and return of salmon was the Sapperton Fish and Game Club whose major community/environmental project was the Brunette River Restoration Project which started in 1969 until 2021. Steps in its restoration included:  physical cleanup of river, improving water quality, building fish ways, and releasing salmon fry into the river from the Club’s own hatchery which they built and operated since 1997.  They worked closely with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and Metro Vancouver directly on river projects and with the cities of Burnaby and New Westminster by sitting on advisory committees  since 1970 to bring the polluted, “dead” Brunette River back to life.  Their reward came in October 1984 as the first Coho Salmon swirled and jumped in the restored river system after a 30 year absence. Head over to the History page to learn more about the vital work of the Sapperton Fish and Game Club in cleaning up the Brunette River Watershed.

Reporting a Spill

call_icon In the event of an accidental environmental spill, contact the City of Burnaby Engineering Department at 604-294-7200 immediately.

If a chemical is flammable, toxic, corrosive or has other hazardous properties, call the Burnaby Fire Department immediately at 911.

To report a spill, dumping or environmental emergency, contact the City of Burnaby’s Engineering Department at 604-294-7982.
Any person responsible for storm water drainage pollution may be held liable under municipal, provincial and federal legislation.

The City of Burnaby can be reached at Engineering General Enquiries during regular office hours.

Office hours are from 8:00 AM to 4:45 PM (Pacific Standard Time) Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, and 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM on Thursdays.

Engineering – General Enquires
engineering@burnaby.ca
Phone: 604-294-7460
4949 Canada Way
Burnaby, BC, V5G 1M2 | Map