Eagle Creek (Burnaby) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Eagle Creek
Eagle Creek joining Burnaby Lake
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Location	Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Type	Creek
Primary inflows	Streams from Burnaby Mountain
Primary outflows	Burnaby Lake

Eagle Creek is a very important creek in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada. It starts on Burnaby Mountain and gets its water from a large area. The creek then flows through the Montecito area and past Squint Lake. Finally, it empties into Burnaby Lake.

The Creek's Journey: Where Eagle Creek Flows

Eagle Creek begins as many small streams. These streams collect water from the west and southwest sides of Burnaby Mountain. The land on the mountain is a protected area called the Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area.

After leaving the protected forest, some parts of Eagle Creek flow through neighborhoods. Sometimes the creek goes through underground pipes called culverts. Other times, it flows in straight channels. In some places, it flows more freely. Here, you'll see plants that grow well in areas that have been changed by people.

The small streams join together near Squint Lake. This area is now the Burnaby Mountain Golf Course. The water then goes under Broadway road through a culvert. After that, it flows into a deep valley that goes all the way to the Lougheed Highway. This valley is mostly natural, except for a service road and some concrete structures for managing stormwater. The plants here are similar to those on the mountain. You might also see some plants that have spread from nearby homes.

Below the highway, Eagle Creek flows through Charles Rummel Park. Then it enters another neighborhood, where it's mostly in channels or culverts again. After Winston Street, the creek goes into Warner Loat Park. Here, it flows next to Piper Avenue until it reaches Burnaby Lake Regional Park. Once in the park, the creek quickly flows into Burnaby Lake, which is a short walk from the Nature House.

Nature and Wildlife: Plants and Animals of Eagle Creek

The entire area where Eagle Creek gets its water is part of the coastal western hemlock zone of British Columbia. This means it's a type of forest found near the coast. The protected lands on Burnaby Mountain and in Burnaby Lake Regional Park have forests that have grown back. These forests mainly have trees like bigleaf maple, red alder, western hemlock, western redcedar, and Douglas-fir.

Underneath these trees, you can find shrubs and plants like salmonberry, Indian plum, and red elderberry. Many animals live here too! You might see Douglas squirrels, black-tailed deer, coyotes, and raccoons. Lots of birds and amphibians also make their homes in this area.

In places where homes have been built, you'll often find plants that are not native to the area. These include English ivy and Himalayan blackberry. These plants can sometimes take over from native species.

Salmon are a natural part of the Eagle Creek ecosystem. Today, groups like the Eagle Creek Streamkeepers work hard to help and protect these fish.

Protecting the Creek: Keeping Wildlife Safe

Eagle Creek has sometimes faced problems in residential areas that have harmed its fish, like trout and salmon. For example, there were incidents in 2006 that affected the fish population. Because of this, people are working to protect the creek and its wildlife. Groups like the Eagle Creek Streamkeepers help keep the water clean and safe for the fish and other animals that live there.

Images for kids

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  Upper Eagle Creek tributaries at the end of Aubrey St

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  An Eagle Creek tributary north of Birkdale Pl

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  An Eagle Creek tributary south of Birkdale Pl

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  An Eagle Creek tributary at Ednor Cr just north of Greystone Dr, Montecito

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  An Eagle Creek tributary in a lane off Augusta Ave

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  An Eagle Creek tributary at Curtis St and Augusta Ave

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  Eagle Creek at Greystone Drive

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  Eagle Creek at Phillips Ave and Woodbrook Pl, near Greystone Mall