Thousands of white styrofoam pellets dumped into Hyde Creek could have been an environmental disaster if not for the quick work of a couple of Port Coquitlam city workers.
Zach Lundrie, an aquatic supervisor, and Foster Dolling, a lifeguard, used shop vacuums to suck up the pellets and dispose of them properly instead of leaving them in the creek to harm fish.
Lundrie said he and Dolling collected two bags of the packing material, doing their work on their breaks and after their shift.
"It's a pretty careless act, I have no idea who would have done it," said Lundrie, who was working at Hyde Creek rec centre last Saturday when he was told about the problem and went out to check.
In MetroVancouver styrofoam is banned from garbage and has to be taken to a recycling centre. The foam pellets can be dangerous because they don't break down easily and styrofoam is a major form of marine debris around the world.
There are financial consequences for anyone caught dumping materials into a creek. In PoCo, someone could be fined $300 for leaving such a mess in a fish stream, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada could level heavier consequences for dumping something that could alter water quality and be harmful to fish.
Fortunately, the creek was dry, so the foam pellets could be vacuumed up.
A black duffel bag was also left behind and it looked like the foam packing beads were kicked around a bit or blown in the wind. Lundrie said it was a mess but he was glad to be able to help out.
The stream stewards at Hyde Creek Watershed Society are also pleased the group took action before the wind could carry the foam pellets further into the forest or along the creek bed.
"Terrific folks take care of our creeks," said Jean Peachman, a volunteer, in an email.
