REPORT ON SILVER CREEK WETLANDS, MISSION, FIELD TRIP:
February 17, 2007

There was a good turnout for the afternoon’s fieldtrip. Silver Creek Wetlands (incorrectly named on the signs) is a 112 acre conservation area which has been designated a wildlife sanctuary. Various partners came together to preserve this wetland which included Ducks Unlimited, the District of Mission and the Stave Valley Salmonid Enhancement Society.

We were met by Sharon Syrette and two friends, all active volunteers who gave us a talk on the wetlands. Deemed an extremely environmentally sensitive area, it is one of the few remnants of the historical Fraser River flood plain with intact ecosystem functions and productive foraging habitat for waterfowl. The Silver Creek Wetlands provide a rare combination of freshwater wetlands surrounded by agricultural land and forest.
Silver Creek, which runs through the property, is already designated by the Province as one of 15 sensitive streams due to its value for fish stocks, water flows, and restoration potential 1.

Our afternoon stroll took us along Silver Creek. Sharon told us that the new trees in the wetlands were planted by environmental education students and girl guides. One of the objectives of the volunteers has been the educational aspect of this important wetland and the beauty of nature. The Red-tailed Hawk perched on the top of the Cottonwood tree seemed to nod with approval.

The trailhead opens up to the first pond. There are three large poles standing in this pond, one of which has an eagle carving. There are a number of grass banks and then another pond just at the edge of the forest. There were two Hooded Mergansers and some Mallards swimming. The ponds are joined together by Silver Creek, and there is a larger pond down the path about half way cross the sanctuary. Here we saw Ring-necked Ducks, Gadwall, and Buffleheads. The volunteers said that during the winter, otter were seen in this pond, a sight that really gave them a thrill.

At the end of the trail is a concrete statue of a fish. It was made from the same mold as the bronze fish at the entrance to the Alexandria Bridge. The statue was erected by the environmental education program students to acknowledge the sites’ significant environmental importance.

Future plans are to extend the walking path to the edge of the highway and to loop the trail back to the start. It would be great if the trail could somehow cross the road and link the dykes on the north bank of the Fraser River.

On our way back we saw a Great-blue Heron perched in a tree. Passing by the ponds, we watched as a female Hooded Merganser struggled to swallow a fish that was quite the beak full. She almost lost it twice.

I would encourage you to pay the wetlands a visit. The directions are: - travel west on Lougheed Highway, turn right on Nelson and stay on the right side on Nelson and less than a kilometre is the parking area.

Many thanks to Sharon and friends for an enjoyable afternoon.

Michael Manley