The Valley Voice, Molly O'Ray
The long-standing tradition of gathering every spring to clean up the Fraser River began back in 2007, with a small group of volunteers and a big love for our salmon and rivers. Fraser Riverkeeper hosted the first cleanup along the Fraser River in Chilliwack, BC and in the 12 years since, they have partnered with local company Woodtone to organize the event
It was a busy year out on the water and thanks to your generous support, here are some of our 2018 achievements.
Before we dive in, we want to extend a huge thank you to all of our incredible volunteers for the 2018 year. We could not have achieved all that we did without you, and we can't wait to see what we accomplish together next year!
If you followed our work with the False Creek Water Monitoring Program this summer you know that we dove a bit deeper into how the water quality in False Creek stands up to Canadian Recreational Water Quality Guidelines. And if you checked out our First Season Report, you saw that we were surprised—and relieved—by how often our samples from False Creek West and False Creek Central met the guidelines. Our curiosity was piqued in the fall when we spotted something fishy on November 1st in Stamps Landing.
This summer (2018) we launched the False Creek Water Monitoring Program, a new citizen science initiative by Fraser Riverkeeper and Swim Drink Fish Canada. The program built on our previous Burrard Inlet and False Creek monitoring in 2017 and established a robust monitoring hub, equipped with an in-house lab on Granville Island.
If someone asked you what watershed you live in, would you be able to tell them? How about if someone asked where your drinking water is sourced from? Or, if someone asked you where your nearest waterbody is located and the fish species you might find swimming in it?
Last week, we told you about the complicated story behind "water safety" in False Creek and the steps you can take to make an informed decision about whether or not to get IN or ON the water. While we can't tell you if the water is "safe" or "unsafe", here is what we are doing to provide you with the information you need to make such a decision.
Every summer, Vancouverites contact us to find out if it is safe to swim in False Creek. False Creek is an incredible waterbody that passes through the heart of the city and a hub for water recreation. It's the meeting point for dragon boat teams and likely houses the dock where you slide into a kayak for the first time. It's no wonder citizens seek more information about the safety of the water quality here, we're always out on the water.
Climate change may be to blame for beach closures in Metro Vancouver.
A woman reads a book Tuesday at Sunset Beach in Vancouver. No-swimming advisories were lifted Tuesday afternoon at Sunset and nearby English Bay Beach but a similar warning remains in effect for Jericho Beach.
CTV Vancouver - August 3, 2018
Bacteria levels have subsided enough at Kitsilano Beach to make the water safe for swimming, health officials announced ahead of the B.C. Day long weekend.
The long weekend is coming up and what better way to celebrate BC Day than by reconnecting to the waters that help make us "Beautiful British Columbia”. Here are 5 reasons why getting out on the waters of BC has great benefits.
