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After disposing of dead fish, Coquitlam volunteers hit the streets

Education campaign underway to remind residents not to dump toxic substances down storm drains
Diane Strandberg
Fish kill
Thousands of fish died when a toxic substance flowed through the Hoy Creek hatchery in Coquitlam, prompting an education campaign to remind residents to be careful of what they put down storm drains.Hoy-Scott Watershed Society

A devastating May fish kill in Coquitlam's Hoy Creek has prompted the Hoy-Scott Watershed Society to launch an education campaign to remind people not to put toxic substances down storm drains.

After thousands of coho smolts were killed in Hoy Creek hatchery off Princess Crescent May 28, water was tested. Although no culprit was found, ammonia levels were high at the Hoy Creek storm outfall immediately after the fish kill, suggesting someone may have poured bleach or chlorine down a storm drain.

Now, volunteers are working weekends to remind people to be careful of what they put down storm drains because the drains lead to local creeks.

“We want people to be aware of the storm drains, first and foremost, that they lead to the creek. It’s just not a place to be dumping refuse,” society president Robbin Whachell told The Tri-City News.

Hoy Scott
Hoy-Scott Watershed Society volunteers are going door to door this weekend to hand out information about protecting creeks. Education has been ramped up after a toxic substance, likely poured down a storm drain, killed fish at the hatchery in late May. - HSWS

This weekend, volunteers will be handing out door hangers, putting up posters letting people know what happened and marking storm drains with yellow fish decals.

Whachell said she hopes the education efforts will discourage people from dumping chemicals down storm drains and prevent future fish kills.

Meanwhile, work is ongoing at the hatchery to take care of the remaining 2,700 coho fry. The fish are about two inches long and will stay in the hatchery until they are ready for release next spring.

Whachell is also happy to see some fish in the creek after so many were killed in late May, saying, “It’s nice to see Mother Nature back at work.”

Storm drain marking
Volunteer Lani Lehun pounds down a yellow fish decal next to a storm drain. Hoy-Scott Watershed Society is visiting homes in Coquitlam neighbourhoods this summer and marking storm drains to remind people not to put toxic substances down the - HSWS photo

GET THE MESSAGE

Here’s the message Hoy-Scot watershed volunteers want to get out to the public:

• Be mindful that everything entering a storm drain ends up in a creek. Creeks contain aquatic life that can’t survive pollution being dumped into the habitat.

• As members of the public, we all have a duty to steward and protect the environment that we live in.

• Should you witness any suspected pollution being dumped into a storm drain, take immediate action to report it to the authorities: Coquitlam 24-hour emergency: 604-927-3500; Observe, Record, Report (federal): 1-800-465-4336; or Report all Poachers and Polluters (provincial): 1-877-952-RAPP,