March 04, 2010
Fish Kill in Burnaby’s Byrne Creek March 4, 2010
A chemical entered Byrne Creek in southeast Burnaby in the mid-to-late afternoon today, killing fish. Someone called Environment Canada [CORRECT: in fact the City of Burnaby received the call from the BC provincial enviro ministry after a youth called the Provincial Emergency Program], who then called the City, and streamkeepers also noticed the kill around the same time. City staff took samples and worked on tracing the source, which likely came from a storm drain, while streamkeepers took photos for documentation and sampled pH in the creek at several points. Both City staff and streamkeepers plan to follow up tomorrow. Here are some photos:
The fish ladder at the pond west of Griffiths Dr.
Water is covered with foam and slick to the touch.
There was an ammonia smell coming out of the pipe.
Dead fish on bottom of pool.
Dead cutthroat with hazy water visible. That's a size 12 boot
toe beside it for comparison.
Just a few days ago, streamkeepers were excited to see baby salmon
fry popping out of the gravel. We are concerned that they may also have
been affected.
I find it hard to believe that after decades of education efforts, such
kills still happen.
Please, folks, remember that all drains on roads and parking lots lead to fish habitat!
Posted by Paul at March 4, 2010 10:20 PM