91原创 will be funded $25,000 to improve citizens鈥� understanding of how the pollutants of E. coli and fecal coliforms can be present in 1,800 kilometres of agricultural surface waterways, impacting wildlife population, and drinking water quality. 

Nichole Marples, executive director of 91原创 Environmental Partners Society (LEPS), said the pollutants can disrupt the community. 

鈥淚f you're looking at material contamination in freshwater systems, it can have an impact on livestock that might be drinking that water," she explained.

"It can transfer diseases between farms. Also, it can impact wildlife populations and, we have about 850 kilometres of those streams that are direct salmon spawning and rearing habitat, and it can have an impact on our wild salmon population, as well."

The causes are widespread, added Marples. 

Pollutants 鈥渃an come from unmaintained septic systems, from uncovered manure piles or raw manure being spread on fields. Rain can interact with that, or can be caused from pet waste."

She also noted there are some other possible causes, such as unregulated composting facilities or water from mushroom farms.

"It isn't healthy having livestock have access to drinking that water,鈥� Marples said.

Another part of the $25,000 funding from Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation (HCTF) locally will be dedicated to protecting bats in 91原创.

Since 1981, HCTF has funded more than 3,800 projects, representing an investment of more than $232 million in conservation throughout the province 鈥� including a number of initiatives in 91原创.
 
This time around, some of that money is specifically earmarked to protect local bats from white-nose syndrome, an aggressive and fatal bat disease caused by a fungus, explained Forest Enhancement Society of BC, (FESBC) project leader Cori Lausen.

Saving bats is important to the community, said Lausen. Her society is partnering with HCTF to make the local bat project possible. 

鈥淧rotecting species of building-roosting bats is not only important for the ecosystem鈥檚 health but, is specifically important in urban and rural areas where high human densities benefit from the insect-eating services of these long-lived, yet slow-reproducing mammals.鈥�

For tips on protecting bats, Lausen suggest people visit the