A recent volunteer trash clean-up in Hoy Creek has again highlighted the problem of errant litter.
A VCR, shopping carts, lawn chairs and a computer monitor are just a few of the large and notable items the Hoy/Scott Watershed Society (HSWS) pulled from the delicate waterways starting at the Hoy Creek hatchery, heading downstream to the first foot bridge near Glen. Society members also took out a surprising number of swimming wrist bands, fire extinguisher, the base of a wheel jack, two hypodermic needles, and much more.
"It's been a problem for years," said Keith Kozak, HSWS public relations.
Volunteers regularly check trails for trash, and will do a formal clean-up when a significant amount of garbage has accumulated, he said.
Some of the materials could be considered a risk to the fish and other wildlife.
"Herons could get tangled up" in the plastic dumped in the creek, said Kozak, while the native crayfish and salmon are also affected.
"We have had many instances of creek contamination," he said, including someone depositing chlorine into the creek. Last spring, there was a fry kill off after an unknown material was poured into waterway.
"That is a sensitive area that cannot tolerate it," said Kozak.
There is also the toll on the donated labour.
These types of unnecessary tidying efforts "stresses the resources of the group."
The last creek clean-up happened more than six years ago and the volunteer-run society is now planning an annual pick-up event.
The HSWS has been in operation since 2002. The society operates a small salmon hatchery and conducts a salmon enhancement program in partnership with the City of Coquitlam, and technical expertise from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. The society also works to restore and maintain the riparian habitat in the watershed by removing invasive plant species and re-planting with native plant species.
