Red Fish Up The River
The Coquitlam River is located in between the cities of
Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam. This river is a tributary for the
Fraser River. There is a reservoir near the headwaters of the river
called Coquitlam Lake. This lake provides a large portions of the
Vancouver's drinking water. Part of the Port Coquitlam Tributary
Trail and the Trans Canada trail run alongside this river. The
Indian reserves of the Kway-quit-lum people of the
Coquitlam Indian Band are also located along the river.
Coquitlam literally means "Red Fish Up the River", and upriver
migrating sockeye salmon have long been known as red fish, or red
salmon--in recognition of their prespawning colour.
Each year during fall, hundreds of chum salmon return to spawn
in the Coquitlam River. Although Coquitlam Lake is home to a
population Kokanee, believed to be the descendants of the sockeye
that were trapped behind the dam in 1914, sockeye salmon have not
returned to the Coquitlam Lake since then. However, in the fall of
2007, two adult female sockeye made their way back--the first
sockeye to return to the Coquitlam River since 1914. We're hopeful
that more sockeyes will return in the coming years.
Cache description:
Original cache was muggled. The replaced cache is a small camo'd
container with room only for a log book and a short pencil.
High traffic area. Please retrieve and hide with care.