Still Creek facts for kids
Still Creek is a long stream that flows through central Burnaby, British Columbia. It eventually empties into Burnaby Lake, which then flows into the Brunette River. Still Creek mostly runs through an industrial area. This used to cause a lot of pollution. However, thanks to hard work from local volunteers, the creek is slowly getting healthier!
In 2006, the City of Burnaby made a plan to help Still Creek. This plan aimed to stop flooding in the Still Creek area, especially near Gilmore Avenue, which often flooded. It also worked to make the creek a better home for fish and other wildlife.
Animals and Plants in Still Creek
The banks of Still Creek have many plants. These plants provide a home for various animals. You might spot amazing birds like the great blue heron, red-tailed hawk, or belted kingfisher. Sometimes, you can even see a pheasant! Other birds, like the red-winged blackbird, also live near the water.
Beavers have always lived in Still Creek. More recently, river otters have also made the creek their home. Fish like Coastal cutthroat trout are slowly coming back to the creek. In November 2012, something very exciting happened: for the first time in nearly 80 years, many large salmon were seen returning to Still Creek to lay their eggs!
Where Does Still Creek Flow?
Still Creek starts in western Burnaby, just north of Central Park. From there, it flows northwest into Vancouver, and then turns north. For many years, a large part of the creek from Central Park to 29th Avenue was hidden underground in pipes. This was part of Vancouver's storm sewer system.
The creek comes out into the open near the 29th Avenue Station. It then flows north through the Renfrew Ravine. After going under 22nd Avenue and Renfrew Street, it runs through a park next to the Renfrew Community Centre. It then goes underground again for a few blocks. Still Creek reappears just before the Grandview Highway, where it turns east and flows back towards Burnaby.
From Renfrew Street in Vancouver to Gilmore in Burnaby, Still Creek has been changed by people. Much of it has been straightened into a channel, and some parts are still underground. East of Gilmore, the creek is mostly in its natural shape. For the last kilometer before it reaches Burnaby Lake, the land on both sides of the creek has been protected from new buildings.
Streams That Join Still Creek
Still Creek is the main stream that drains the western part of the Brunette area. Many smaller streams flow into it. Here are some of the most important ones:
- Chubb Creek - This creek has become shorter because of new buildings. Chubb Creek now starts near the Lougheed Highway, east of Boundary Road in Burnaby. It flows southeast, goes under Gilmore near Gilmore Station, and joins Still Creek underground a bit further southeast.
- Guichon Creek - Guichon Creek begins in the hills south of the Still Creek valley. It flows north across the campus of the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). It joins Still Creek just west of Willingdon Avenue.
- Beecher Creek - Beecher Creek starts in North Burnaby and flows south through a valley. It goes under the Lougheed Highway and joins Still Creek west of Holdom.
- Spring Brook - Spring Brook flows northeast of Boundary Road and joins Still Creek just west of Gilmore Station.
