Still Creek
Still Moon leads the ongoing restoration of Still Creek, which flows through the Renfrew Ravine and the Renfrew-Collingwood neighbourhood.
Still Creek is an urban stream that runs through the unceded Coast Salish Territories of Burnaby and Vancouver. It is one of the few remaining open streams in the City of Vancouver and was once home to a vast stream system supporting Pacific salmon species and Indigenous communities. Ongoing urbanization, including piping large parts of the stream system and industrial activity, led to poor drainage, the introduction of pollutants, and ongoing flooding events.
Still Moon has been involved in the restoration of Still Creek and developing the area as a community gathering space since 2003. This has been done through on-site work including removing waste and invasive species, planting and tending to native species, releasing salmon fry, and performing water and invertebrate sampling tests. We have worked alongside stewardship partners in federal and local governments, and Streamkeepers across the Lower Mainland.
A major breakthrough occurred in 2012 when the Chum salmon returned after 80 years of absence in the Vancouver portion of Still Creek; the Chum salmon spawned yearly from 2012 until 2017. To understand the significance of this event, check out Mark Angelo’s video below.
Still Creek is one of the few remaining places in Vancouver where communities can connect with and appreciate the natural stream system of the land. It is a place to find peace within the Renfrew-Collingwood urban landscape. Our goal is to continually improve the health of Still Creek for abundant salmon spawning and pave the way for a healthy ecosystem. Our Environmental Stewardship Programs provide a dynamic approach to ecological restoration, including public education, hands-on habitat restoration, and community engagement.
Learning Resources
Still Creek Enhancement Opportunities Study. 2023. Report prepared by space2place design inc. and Kerr Wood Leidal for the City of Vancouver. The purpose of this study is to guide future work in the Still Creek watershed. The study refines and advances the vision from a previous City of Vancouver study (2002 Still Creek Rehabilitation and Enhancement Study)
Transboundary Municipal Ecosystem Governance: A Case Study of Still Creek. This storymap examines how the Still Creek ecosystem’s health and value has been impacted through policy and plan development over time, and draws conclusions for transboundary municipal ecosystem governance in a changing climate.
Still Creek Watershed Ecosystem-based Stewardship Plan for Ecological Restoration. 2018. by Herb Hammond, with Chloe Boyle and Emily Doyle-Yamaguchi.
Still Creek Rehabilitation and Enhancement Study. 2002. Prepared for the City of Vancouver by Lees + Associates, Karen Hurley + Associates, Dayton + Knight Engineers, Hudema Consulting Group.
The City of Vancouver’s Rain City Strategy.