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Trevor Doré

opinions editor

“Fish found dead.”

This is not the first time this
phrase has been printed in the pages
of the local newspapers. All too
often this type of news is found in
the headlines. Two weeks ago, it was
more than 2,000 dead fish found in
Burnaby’s Byrne Creek. Although
this isn’t the first time the subject has
made headlines, it never ceases to
be shocking. So why is it that these
fish continue to die? Investigations
are launched to find the source of the
contamination and then nothing is
said about the problem for a while.
Then suddenly, when you hoped you
wouldn’t hear it again, another fish
kill makes the headlines.

Who is responsible for this
contamination and the resulting

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death? Is someone out to contaminate
streams and kill fish with a
vengeance? Perhaps, it is all the
doing of one of Captain Planet’s
Eco-Villain archenemies. They know
that what they are doing is wrong
yet they continue to do it anyways.
They pour their contaminants into the
streams out of greed and selfishness.
They hope to exploit the general lack
of knowledge in order to get what
they want. While the culprit could be
some real-life-Eco-Villain, I imagine
it has more to do with a general lack
of knowledge.

Our cities are built on what
used to be significantly more natural
environments. The occasional tree
and green space are left and the rest
is cleared to make way for roads
and housing. Creeks and streams
are often diverted and occasionally
paved over in order to make way for
urban infrastructure. In many places
around the Lower Mainland, these
streams follow through, under and

around our communities. Because
these waterways are often built out of
the way, they can be easily forgotten.
However, the fact is that almost
everything we do on land ends up in
a stream.

The pesticides that are used
to keep lawns luscious and green
eventually end up in a stream.
The salt and sand that is used to
prevent cars from sliding on icy
roads eventually end up in a stream.
Garbage that is thrown in streets
instead of in garbage cans eventually
ends up in a stream. The oil from
a leaky automobile or gas from an
overfull tank eventually ends up ina
stream. The soapsuds from a freshly
washed car eventually end up in a
stream. Everything eventually ends
up in a stream! This can be hard to
imagine and easy to forget. Luckily,
there is a little yellow fish to help
remind us.

The yellow fish painted on
storm drains are a constant reminder

 

that everything ends up in a stream.
Some refer to these drains as sewers.
The correct terminology however,
is storm drain and the two are
significantly different. The stuff
that we flush down the toilet and
wash down the drain goes through
a sewage treatment system. Things
that are washed down a storm drain
go directly into a stream. This is
important and something that we all
must be aware of.

“Fish found dead.” This is not
the first and unfortunately won’t
likely be the last time this news
makes the headlines. The damage
could be the act of an individual
evildoer however; it is more like the
result of an unaware general public.
While proper urban infrastructure
design and environmental policy
can help alleviate contamination,
much can also be done behalf of the
individual. Be aware and spread the
word.