Editor:
For the past several years, Luka and I mark Earth Day by looking at how Stoney Creek (in Burnaby and Coquitlam) and its wildlife were impacted since the previous Earth Day.
Perhaps appropriately, Stoney Creek was hit by yet another dump yesterday. Yup, this year was absolutely the worst year for Stoney Creek and its wildlife in the 18 years we have lived in the community.
From others I hear the worst ever.
Since the horrible July 2021 fish kill, Stoney Creek has been polluted by seven days of spewing sewage. Some of those days at least nine manholes were spewing sewage. Stoney Creek was polluted by countless construction and other dumps; the number of dumps is too large to count, but I estimate at least 12 larger dumps.
Yesterday’s dump encapsulates the past year. The pollution in Stoney Creek was first noticed after 8 a.m. I understand that the enforcement officer arrived around 10 a.m. and the evidence by then was far downstream.
I expect this means that no pollution source was identified, no one was fined, no other action will be taken - similar to the countless other sewage and other dumps that hit Stoney Creek and its wildlife over and over and over.
I and others are increasingly wondering if our authorities are unable or unwilling to stop the sewage and other dumps hitting Stoney Creek and its wildlife. Please prove us wrong and stop the spewing sewage and dumps.
Now a challenge to our authorities - let’s take action to end spewing sewage and prevent dumps into Stoney Creek. Let’s mark Earth Day 2023 as a success story for Stoney Creek instead of another year of pollution disasters.
Think global, act local.
George and Luka Kovacic
