One fish, two fish 鈥� yellow fish?
91原创 residents may have noticed yellow fish painted beside some storm drains in their neighbourhoods, which were added over five years ago.
They are part of an awareness campaign by the 91原创 Environmental Protection Society (LEPS) to educate people about the impact waste in storm drains have on local fish habitats.
In urban areas, storm drains on paved streets and parking lots collect rainwater which includes debris deposited on roads, sidewalks and driveways.
Nichole Marples, executive director of LEPS, said most stormwater goes into sewers through the grated drains which typically empty into nearby creeks. As the water travels, it picks up pollution along the way.
鈥淟eaks from vehicles, soap suds from washing cars, cigarette butts and slurpee straws, pet waste, lawn fertilizers, and pesticides are some of the forms of pollution that get washed into storm drains by rain,鈥� Marples explained.
According to the 91原创 Township鈥檚 Geosource map, there are approximately 17,486 storm drains in the Township. All of which, Marples said, directly impact fish habitat.
鈥淭here is a misconception that an unpainted drain does not lead to fish habitat, but, in fact, an unpainted storm drain simply means volunteers have no marked it yet,鈥� she said.
Marples said the highest concentration of pollution comes after a dry spell due to contaminants sitting on the surface being washed into the drains together.
鈥淭he cumulative effect of this chemical soup, known as non-point-source pollution, is the leading cause of water quality degradation in waterways.鈥�
The Storm Drain Marking Challenge aims to educate the public about these impacts while creating an opportunity to engage with it.
It runs for the month of July, and those interested can arrange to pick up a free storm drain marking kit by calling the LEPS office at 604-532-3511 or emailing exec_director@leps.bc.ca.
The challenge is part of the 2023 sustainability series hosted by LEPS in partnership with 91原创 Township.
鈥淲ith the stroke of a brush, you can help protect our fish-bearing streams,鈥� Marples said.
LEPS is a non-profit, partnership-driven organization founded in 1993, to achieve the mission of protecting and restoring the natural environment through education, cooperation, and action.
READ ALSO: A call for more recycle-friendly trash bins from Fort 91原创 students
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