- We are dedicated to the preservation of the Hoople Cree / Bay and basin. The aquatic life used to be plentiful with an abundance of turtles, frogs, birds and various species of fish. Musky, Pike, Catfish, Perch, Bass and Crappie all used to spawn in the upper portions of the bay and creek. With recent low water levels and grass growing on the dry land, it is often nothing more than a field in the summer months. Our Group is trying to inspire all stakeholders to take immediate steps to preserve the water fish sanctuary and to make efforts to restore the creek and bay to the activity levels of 30 years ago.
- In the late 1990’s there were tens of thousands of Walleye going up the creek each spring to spawn and this supported a great fishery, particularly through the ice each winter in the outer edges of Hoople Bay. However, the demise of this fishery occurred shortly thereafter to the point where very few Walleye make it up the creek to spawn and very seldom are any walleye caught through the ice each winter.
- There is thought to be a number of causes for the demise of the fishery, including the extremely low water levels, fertilizer used in the adjacent farmlands and the harvesting of fish with spears by the First Nations peoples.
- Our ‘Friends of Hoople Creek’ Society was formed in early 2021 after the production of a video outlining some concerns for the sustainability of the Walleye population in Hoople Bay that used the creek to spawn. Some local citizens responded to the concerns and volunteered to help with an action plan to try and restore the fishery to its glory days.
- The Society is now officially incorporated under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act and is actively pursuing its goals pertaining to environmental activism. We are continually seeking out people who may be interested in joining our Society as a voting member and to help enhance the awareness of the plight of these environmental concerns.
- Surveillance cameras have been installed along the most significant spawning beds and monitored on a 24/7 basis by volunteers. This is an attempt to record and document any would be poaching of spawning fish as well as the harvesting of fish with spears by First Nations people.
- It is our intention to raise further funding to finance the installation of underwater cameras at specific pinch points along the creek to factual evidence of the actual number of fish returning to spawn. The data collected will be used to assess whether a restocking program will be necessary to restore the fishery.
Friends of Hoople Creek 