The Coquitlam River is no longer on the Outdoor Recreation Council's most endangered list but must still be closely watched to ensure that it doesn't back track, says Mark Angelo, rivers chair for the B.C. organization.
Efforts to monitor siltation and other pollutants on the river and the establishment of the Coquitlam River Watershed Roundtable are clear signs of progress, Angelo said, but he said more rigorous and ongoing monitoring is needed to truly assess the health of the river that flows past gravel operations and homes in Port Coquitlam and Coquitlam.
"The Coquitlam has fallen off the main list for the first time in many, many years," Angelo said, "part of our job is to focus on rivers that have issues and problems, we also try to focus onto some of the positive gains." he said.
This year the council pared down its endangered list from 10 to three partly to increase focus on the issues facing the Peace, lower Fraser and the Elk Rivers, Angelo said, but also because those three rivers were identified as being the most at risk by members representing outdoor recreation organizations across the province.
"We got so much feedback, we decided to go with a more abbreviated list, Angelo explained, however, he said the Coquitlam River is still very much on the organization's radar.
HEALTH DATA
"We did hear from any many members who live in our community who were pleased with the monitoring program but they also believe there is a need for an expanded monitoring program under varying conditions that has to be done if concerns about siltation are to be fully alleviated," Angelo said.
The city of Coquitlam's undertaking of a $13,000 water-quality monitoring program at seven locations along the river last year was a good first step, he said, but it should be more frequent than once a week for two months during the dry and rainy seasons.
The city data released last month indicated the river in good shape overall, and Angelo credited the city with taking the action to get more information. "My goal to see a river drop off for the right reasons, the Coquitlam has been on the list for years,near the top a decade ago."
MORE MONITORING
But more rigorous monitoring would provide data at all times of the day or night, and for longer periods, especially during the rainy season, Angelo said, echoing comments of local stewards at the time the data was initially presented.
Meanwhile, Angelo was also complimentary of the Coquitlam River Watershed Roundtable, a stakeholders group from industry, the environment, government, cities and citizens, who meet to talk about important issues regarding the river. The group also recently hired a coordinator and set up a website where people can get more information about the river. It is available here.
