Title: The Challenges in Maintaining an Urban Salmon Population – the Brooklyn Creek Story
Speaker: John Neilson
Date: Sunday, September 27, 2026
Time: 3:00 p.m. PT
Location: Main hall of Comox United Church, 250 Beach Drive, Comox

Streams in urban environments that support healthy Pacific salmon populations are uncommon, as natural watercourses are often degraded or even buried during the course of development of roads and other urban infrastructure.  Of the various Pacific salmon species, coho salmon show special abilities to survive and even thrive in close proximity to human settlements.  In this talk, John Neilson reviews the status of coho salmon in the region, and explores the characteristics of this species that promote their resilience.  He will also speak of the work of the Brooklyn Creek Watershed Society as they work to conserve the watershed in Comox.

About the speaker

Dr. John Neilson has had a 30-year long career as a research scientist with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, including leading research on the population status and ecology of bluefin tuna and swordfish in Canadian waters.  He was also a member of the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC), and most recently, led the preparation of the status report on chinook salmon in southern British Columbia.  He is the President of the Brooklyn Creek Watershed Society.

More about the meeting

This will be an in-person only meeting. We will make a recording of the keynote presentation available later on this website.

As always, there will be an intermission after the presentation with a chance to meet new people and socialize with old friends. Tea, coffee and treats will be available (by donation).

A brief business meeting follows. Reports from some of our interest groups and projects are an opportunity for guests to learn more about what we do.

The post Learn about coho and Brooklyn Creek stewardship at our September general meeting appeared first on Comox Valley Nature.