Staff from Fisheries and Oceans Canada is looking into construction work around Silver Creek, following concerns raised by Burnaby streamkeeper John Preissl.
Preissl contacted the NOW last week about construction at an Adera development site Eastlake Drive, and he’s also worried City of Burnaby work is impacting the waterway. During heavy rains, construction runoff can fill the creek with silt, which can cause breathing problems for fish or smother their eggs.
“This developer needs to be fined; Adera needs to be fined,” Preissl said. “It’s been the exact same problem for two years now. I want the City of Burnaby to step up their game and start taking salmon protection seriously again in this beautiful city of ours. Salmon coming back into to our creeks the last eight to 10 years is a gift not many cities across Canada have anymore, and the bottom line is we have to protect Burnaby’s creeks.”
Preissl is rattling as many cages as possible, trying to get authorities to protect the creek.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada could not offer any details but confirmed staff is looking into the situation.
It’s illegal to introduce a “deleterious” or harmful substance into fish bearing waters, and doing so can results in fines, and that section of the Fisheries Act falls under Environment and Climate Change Canada’s jurisdiction. However, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans oversees the section that covers work that would harm or alter fish habitat. Silver Creek runs into Burnaby Lake, close to the outflow into the Brunette River, which is home to the endangered Nooksack dace, although it’s not clear if upstream work is harming the red-listed species. The dace is protected under the Species At Risk Act.
Preissl said he contacted Environment Canada’s spill reporting line more than once and has not received a call back. He also had to call DFO’s reporting line multiple times to get a response. He also said he’s complained to the City of Burnaby in the past about the Adera site and the city’s own work.
“The City of Burnaby and the streamkeepers cannot keep up with development in Burnaby,” Preissl said.
