Fast food containers were the most common trash items collected.
Our annual summer stream clean was held on Aug. 29 and Sept. 5 and was focussed on Aberdeen Avenue, an area not necessarily noted for close proximity to nature due to it being an industrial area.
in fact, this busy street in Coquitlam has two streams running below it. Both Scott and Hoy Creeks flow under this avenue and converge where the SkyTrain crosses over just south of Aberdeen. Once the two streams converge, they eventually meet the Coquitlam River before joining the Fraser River. The Fraser River flows into the Straight of Georgia (Pacific Ocean), a total distance of 78 km.
In preparation for the work, the Society provided notice to the surrounding businesses. The notice also served to remind on the delicate ecosystem along the street which is often seen dotted with semi-trucks making pickups or deliveries.
Hoy/Scott Watershed Society volunteers gearing up at the start of the day on Aberdeen Ave.
“Each year we focus on one area of Scott or Hoy Creek as a summer activity,” said Society president, Robbin Whachell. “It’s important that we do this work in the late summer as not to disturb salmon in the creeks. This year, our vice-president, Tyler Storgaard scouted several areas and we agreed this industrial business location would be optimal as we’d not focused work in this area before, and the streets were not marked with storm drain fish decals.”
In less than three hours on each day, the work of HSWS volunteers was evident by the piles of trash removed from the banks of both Scott and Hoy Creeks and along the street between the two streams.
Kim clearing an area that appeared to be frequented as a lunch and/or smoke-break spot by local workers.
“We also cut back the invasive blackberry, which often grows over and hides the stream,” said Whachell. “We hope that less littering will take place if people see that the creek is just right there, a few meters from where they walk past.”
Some of the most common items picked up during the clean were face masks, cigarette packages, fast food and drink containers, bottles and cans, and small plastic bag packaging for earplugs.
Most unusual finds were toys still in good shape, clothing, bedding, footwear, car parts, a dining tabletop and railing.
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Items removed from Hoy Creek on Aberdeen Ave.
Lani holds up some of her finds from Scott Creek along Aberdeen Ave.
Ririka pounds down a fish marker near a storm drain while Robbin clears rubbish above Scott Creek on Alberdeen ave.