Shawnigan Creek Coho A Salmon Enhancement Success Now in Crisis Jerrod L. Pinder Director, Fish and Habitat Committee Shawnigan Residents Association (SRA)
Shawnigan Creek Coho
Shawnigan Creek Coho Enhancement Established 1979 with Gold stream Coho introduced into Shawnigan Creek. • Coho cannot get passed several locations through impassable falls and are • transported by volunteers. In 2013 creek had over 5,000 returning fish making it a significant run size on • south island next to other streams. Completely operated by volunteers of Mill Bay and District Conservation Society. • Fish are used shared in times of low abundance with Gold stream .Gold stream • also helps with raising fish for release in Shawnigan Creek. Small private hatchery with Shawnigan lake School has special relationship with • project, and serves as education for students.
SIA (SIRM) – Soil Remediation Site Permit granted by MOE to SIA to accept • 5 million tons of contaminated soil for 50 years into the watershed. SIA Permit is wide open except in • dumping biomedical or radioactive contaminates. Site is located 100 feet from Upper • Shawnigan Creek . This is just downstream from salmon habitat. Two lots of concern: Lot 23 (facility) and • 21 (stored material for fill).
SIA (SIRM) – Soil Remediation Site
Current Issues SIA Lot 21 Originally supposed to be clean fill to support LOT23 operation. MEM placed stop • work order on LOT 21. It is not known what is dumped and there are no records. Leachate drains directly from this pile into Shawnigan Creek. Recent independent tests by QEP show levels of cobalt above aquatic and • provincial standards for drinking water. Hydrocarbons and other materials are observed that do not occur naturally. MOE tested surface soil of pile on LOT21, but refuses to do core soil testing. • DFO and Environment Canada have been ineffective. All test data and information • have been given to Environment Canada enforcement officer. No RAR assessment done by Province even though it is required. •
SIA Lot 21- Dec 6,2015
Current Issues SIA Lot 23 Groundwater underneath site is flowing into creek. This is documented by CVRD • and an independent engineering company as well as independent geologists and scientists. Surface water from site is not being controlled. Several streams are feeding into • creek from the site. It is unknown what the increased flow rates will do to the spawning beds or • habitat. Health and aquatic risks are unknown. Conflicting water tests done by MOE and • CVRD have been done. Again no RAR is done for this area just like LOT21. •
SIA Lot 23- Dec.2,2015
Our Challenges Bill 38. Under the new changes within Fisheries Act • the ownership on this issue has transferred to Province. New government. Liberals are not up to speed yet • with new fisheries minister. Understaffing of DFO. Simply do not have resources • to investigate. The project is not widely known in media, and • public. Unknown how these changes to our water will effect • fish and future of enhancement project.
Why Should You Care? Shawnigan Creek is part of management area from Nanaimo to the Gorge in • Victoria. If Shawnigan Creek is impacted by pollution there will be a major impact to • Goldstream, Colquitz and Craigflower Creek brood stock in times of low returns. If we are not successful with protecting this creek than this project could happen • on any river or stream in BC. Example look at site at Chahalis River. Or the recycling facility on banks of Fraser River. Any stream or river is vulnerable and not protected from these projects. •
What Is Being Done? CVRD has just won in Supreme Court against MOE that the site is cannot be zoned • as contaminated facility. Lawyers for SIA and SIRM will be in appeals court next week to try and overturn injunction, and ruling. SRA alleged fraud case by SIA has been heard in Supreme Court. Awaiting judges • decision to throw out the permit, and also grant an injunction against further dumping. Letters continue to be sent out by several interest groups, first nations etc. to the • premier, environment minister, prime minister, and fisheries minister for cleanup of LOT21 and the stopping of dumping contaminated soil on LOT23. CVRD has submitted an independent engineering assessment as well as new • water testing (completed in December) calling for a complete stop to dumping, and further independent review of site.
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