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Find out what we've been up to!
Thanks to our friends from the Talitha Koum Society who helped with a trail clean by Hoy Creek on May 24.
Despite the wet weather, a lot got done!
“We’ve been through this area last fall,” said Robbin Whachell, a director at Hoy/Scott Watershed Society who led the group, “and it’s always disheartening to see the return of all the trash where we once cleaned. This area is so beautiful.”
HSWS president, Kyle and the haul from only two-hours work off Runnel Drive by Scott Creek.
In-stream work during the year is avoided except for the months of July and August.
Each year in late summer we walk along the creeks to collect garbage in-stream. We are often amazed at how much has accumulated over a year, and more recently, how much trash accumulates in heavy-traffic areas within a month or two!
In 2023, we were out in July and then August. We returned to the busy streets: Runnel Drive and Aberdeen Ave.
Trash included a lighting panel with bulbs, a car seat, umbrellas, plants, a purse, clothes and shoes, books, paint cans and other aerosols, a computer monitor, a fire extinguisher, tires, furniture, shopping cart and basket, and the usual fast food and cigarette litter.
Trash collection is coordinated with the City of Coquitlam. Thank you.
Trash in Scott Creek. During a July visit at this same location (at Runnel) furniture was pulled from the stream.
Trash collection on the bank of Scott Creek, south of Guildford and west of Lansdowne.
Trash removal at Aberdeen Ave in July, above Scott Creek.
Robbin and Matt with bags of trash and clothing by Scott Creek south of Guildford and west of Lansdowne.
Anne with a haul in July on Runnel Drive. The furniture seen here was in the stream.
Matt gives a thumbs up at the end of another two-hour session. All the trash was moved to one central location for the City of Coquitlam to pickup.
Three of the four volunteers out on Aug. 20 at Runnel Drive. Left to right: Matthew Watts, Anne W., and Tyler Storgaard. (HSWS photo)
Volunteer work at the hatchery during the summer turns to focus on the riparian area and clean streams. It’s an optimal time of year to mark storm drains as well. It’s also a key time to review the creek system and look for jams which are often a mix of large trash items and fallen tree debris that could hinder salmon passage.
Hoy/Scott Watershed Society was out several times in August and early September working along Hoy Creek in Coquitlam at various locations. In total, nine large contractor bags of trash were removed, along with other large items, such as a bed frame and car muffler.
On August 20th, the area of the stream at Runnel Drive near Lansdowne was the focus. Collected were lots of loose plastics and fast food containers, as well as price tags. A baby playpen was pulled from the creek, along with construction signage, toys, clothes, needles and packaging. Four volunteers collected four large bags of trash that were removed in less than two hours. View more photos of the Runnel clean on our Facebook album.
Trash removed adjacent to the stream at Lansdowne and Runnel. (HSWS photo)
Matthew and Tyler unload bags of trash from truck into the wheel barrel after the Aug. 20 stream clean. (HSWS photo)
On Sept. 3 we worked on a section of Hoy Creek behind Mr. Lube. Three volunteers collected three large bags of trash in two hours. Wooden pallets, a muffler, and several two-by-fours were pulled from Hoy Creek just north of the Barnet Highway bridge. The rubbish haul included many clothing items, books, price tags, needles, stuffed animals, cans, bottles, face masks, and general plastic fast food carton waste.
Sofia and Anne stand in front just some of the trash removed in two hours along Hoy Creek, behind Mr. Lube in Coquitlam.
Robbin Whachell stands in Hoy Creek to break up debris and remove trash.
