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Rotary Tip n’ Taste benefits Nicomekl salmon

The Nicomekl Enhancement Society received a $10,800 cheque from the Tip n’ Taste event.
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Nicomekl Enhancement Society President Jim Armstrong receives the Tip ‘n Taste cheque from Rotary Club of Langley member Leon Jensen. Courtesy Leon Jensen

Fish in the Nicomekl river will be healthier and happier after the Nicomekl Enhancement Society received a large donation.

Leon Jensen, from the Rotary Club of Langley handed over a cheque from the Langley Clubs Charitable Foundation for $10,800 to Nicomekl Enhancement Society’s Jim Armstrong this month.

The cheque was the result of the money raised at the annual Tip ‘n Taste fundraising event last June, organized by the three local Rotary Clubs.

At the Nicomekl hatchery, the fish are returning to the Nicomekl after spending four years in the Pacific Ocean, according to Armstrong.

“Three years ago we had to release fry from three other local rivers in order to start the process of salmon returning to the Nicomekl. We haven’t had to do that for the last two years as the salmon have now started returning to the stream.”

Armstrong explained this year, the hatchery will likely incubate up to 500,000 eggs from returning spawning Chinook, Chum and Coho salmon to raise at the hatchery and release back into the Nicomekl.

According to the Nicomekl Enhancement Society, much of the money raised in 2018 has gone towards fixing some damages caused to the tributaries of the Nicomekl River.

“Just this last September a spill of unknown material into the stream above the hatchery resulted in the mass killing of freshwater crayfish and the almost complete disappearance of juvenile Coho and Cutthroat from pools that just were teaming with life the day before. A few minutes of carelessness can take years or decades to recover from. Please everyone, be careful with our environment,” said Armstrong.

The Nicomekl Enhancement Society offers tours by donation on any Tuesday, Friday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

For more information, contact the Nicomekl Enhancement Society at nicomekl.h@gmail.com or Leon Jensen at leon@leonjensen.ca.