The Editor,
Last Saturday at approximately 6 p.m., I observed a contaminant that appeared to be paint in Noons Creek just around the foot bridge below Panorama Drive in Coquitlam.
I would like to thank city staff for acting quickly; the environmental team mobilized and put a boom in place. Unfortunately, by the time they arrived, the majority of this contaminant had been washed downstream.
I am a volunteer at Mossom Creek Hatchery in Port Moody and find it ironic this would happen in September, when we celebrate Rivers Day.
The majority of Noons Creek has been developed on both sides well up to the Eagle Mountain headwaters. Development has put tremendous stress on this creek. The hatchery suffers from very high water temperatures and low flue during the summer. The last thing the volunteers at Noons Creek need is someone to dump paint into a storm drain.
Please remember every storm drain empties into one of our creeks.
This illegal activity by a thoughtless, lazy individual is extremely disappointing. Noons Creek in Port Moody has a very active hatchery, currently holding 10,000 coho salmon. Spawning season is coming soon and wild salmon will be returning. Please be aware of your actions.
And take your leftover paint to the Return-it centre in Port Coquitlam.
Kevin Ryan, President, Mossom Creek Hatchery
