Oldfield Creek Fish Hatchery turns to Go Fund Me project to help towards Revitalization plans

Some of the debris that has made for some significant 
challenges for the Oldfield Creek Hatchery on Wantage road

Members of the Oldfield Creek Hatchery are turning to an online funding option to help raised money towards the large amount of revitalization work that is needed following the recent heavy rains of the fall which left much debris and caused significant damage around the Wantage Road facility.

Towards their fundraising efforts, the community non profit organization has launched a Go Fund Me quest which began in mid February, the goal for their project is to raise 50,000 thousand dollars towards some of the work ahead.

The background to their Go Fund Me Page provides a bit of an update to the situation facing the volunteers of the Hatchery and the challenges that remain ahead of them.

We need your help. During a heavy rain fall event September 20 and 21, 2021 a landslide occurred upstream of the Oldfield Creek Fish Hatchery. The landslide debris (approx. 1000 cubic metres) is lodged behind the concrete dam where the water intake for the hatchery is located. 

The large pile of woody debris and gravel now sitting on top of the water intake, aka where the slide stopped, has backed up the creek behind this woody plug and is flowing around the debris/log jam in three different channels and causing concern for the safety of the hatchery, volunteers, the public, and Wantage Road below. 

Towards the work that is require they also make note of the partnerships that they have built in the community and beyond to seek the resumption of the work of the Hatchery.

We cannot fulfill our mandate and operate the hatchery because of this landslide. We need to remove the debris, investigate, and repair our water line infrastructure. 

We have been working with various partners including City of Prince Rupert, DFO, McElhanney, Westrek and Pacific Salmon Foundation (PSF) to create a plan that ensures public safety, protects the environment, and will ensure a safe and effective resumption of the Hatchery’s work, to sustain healthy populations of pacific salmon for generations to come.

So far there has been some modest success found from their Go Fund Me work, but they still remain a fair bit away from their goal of 50,000 dollars.

You can donate to their Fund from this link.

Some of our past notes on the damage caused by the October rains and wind can be reviewed below:

Oldfield Creek Hatchery officials hatch plan for mudslide removal

Heavy rain from Monday results in catastrophic situation for Oldfield Creek Hatchery

Some recent notes on their work can reviewed through the Oldfield Creek Hatchery Facebook page

More items of interest on Community themes can be found through our Archive page.