Hoy Creek Hatchery manager, Rodney Lee spreads adhesive to secure a stick-on yellow fish marker to mark a storm drain in Coquitlam. (Photo: Robbin Whachell)
The Hoy-Scott Watershed Society has begun storm drain marking on the streets of Coquitlam.
"Storm drain marking is a great tool to help the public draw the connection between the storm drain and the stream," said Hoy Creek Hatchery manager Rodney Lee. "The water that goes into a storm drain doesn't get processed through a sewage system like household water does, but goes directly into our waterways."
In previous years yellow fish were stenciled on with paint near storm drains, but the HSWS volunteers are using a new method with supplies provided by Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Bright-yellow sticky peel-off decal fish are now used and put in place with added glue. A rubber hammer is used to ensure they are secured them to the concrete.
Supplied by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, adhesive stenciled fish are glued to the ground and pounded on with a rubber hammer to secure. (Photo: Robbin Whachell)
Residents are also encouraged to keep the storm drain area free of trash and cigarette butts.
To enhance public education, the project involves hanging pamphlets on door knobs of houses on streets that have received the new hammered stencils. These pamphlets also educate about ground water in one's own yard, and ask residents to ensure that when emptying hot tubs or swimming pools that they do so 'slowly' into the ground.
"Storm drain marking is a nice opportunity to help educate the public and draw attention to an important issue to help keep our streams clean and our fish safe!" said Rodney Lee.
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An educational pamphlet will be left on the door in areas where stenciled fish have been placed. (Photo: Robbin Whachell)