September 22, 2007
Alta Vista Picnic, Gas, Dirt in Drains
The Byrne Creek Streamkeepers had their booth up at the Alta Vista Park community picnic again this year. It's a great event, and the organizers do an amazing job. It's always fun, and like last year, we brought bugs from the creek for kids to check out.
Streamkeeper Eleanor supervises the bug activity.
The rock climbing contraption is always popular.
As is the annual appearance of a Burnaby firefighters ladder truck.
At events like these, streamkeepers try to educate the public about their local creeks and watersheds. People are often amazed to learn that drains on streets and in parking lots lead directly to local creeks with no filtration. That means nothing except rain should go down those drains!
It was then my turn to be amazed when a person came up to me and told me there was a vehicle parked across the street from the park leaking gasoline directly into a rain drain! I have cropped this photo so as not to cause embarrassment, but this is exactly the type of problem streamkeepers fight.
If you see something like this happening, call the Burnaby 24-hour hotline at 604-294-7200.
On the way home after the event, Yumi and I were also surprised to see trucks spreading dirt from a construction site along Royal Oak. This is illegal, and should be reported to the city.
Remember, everything that gets washed down a drain on a street or parking lot goes directly into a creek!