Image: Cheam First Nation / Cheam First Nation east of Chilliwack reported on September 24 that thousands of juvenile salmon were killed by a recent toxic spill in a Chilliwack waterway. Despite the involvement of nearly a dozen agencies, authorities have not been able to identify the source of a toxic spill that killed thousands of juvenile fish in a Chilliwack waterway last month.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Toxic spill

Authorities say multiple factors may have contributed to death of juvenile salmon in Chilliwack

Oct 22, 2024 | 9:04 AM

CHILLIWACK — Despite the involvement of nearly a dozen agencies, authorities have not been able to identify the exact source of a toxic spill that killed thousands of juvenile fish in a Chilliwack waterway last month.

According to an update from the provincial government dated Friday, October 18, the source of the spill in Hope Slough remains undetermined, but B.C. Emergency Management and Climate Readiness (EMCR) says multiple factors may have contributed to the fish kill. The provincial government says preliminary findings suggest low oxygen levels in the water, though this does not typically pose a direct risk to human health. The cause of these levels is still under investigation.

Cheam First Nation east of Chilliwack reported on September 24 that thousands of juvenile salmon were killed by a recent toxic spill in a Chilliwack waterway. The band said Sqwá Councillor Eddie Gardner, Sqwá Lands Manager Anna-lise Cooke and Cheam First Nation staff member Roxanna Kooistra made the discovery on Monday, Sept. 23 during a routine visit to the Hope Slough waterway where they were conducting water sampling. Cheam says an emergency response was initiated in an effort to control the toxic spill, and the source of the contamination has not been identified. The band says it may be linked to agriculture and farming activities in the Hope Slough area. Work is ongoing as personnel look to pinpoint its origin and why it continues to kill fish and, potentially, wildlife in the area.

Image: Cheam First Nation / Sqwá Councillor and Stó:lō Elder Eddie Gardner is pictured holding juvenile salmon during a recent discovery that a toxic spill has killed thousands of juvenile salmon in the Hope Slough in Chilliwack.

Nearly a dozen government and non-governmental organizations are involved in the investigation, including Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy (ENV), Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness (EMCR), Cheam First Nation, City of Chilliwack, Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD), Cheam Enterprises Inc. (CEI), Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), First Nations Health Authority (FNHA), Fraser Health (FH), Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA), Health Emergency Management BC (HEMBC).

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The B.C. government asserts the responsible person or spiller is legally required to cleanup or manage the cleanup of a spill. In incidents where the responsible person is unknown, unable or unwilling to manage the cleanup, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy (ENV) may assume the role of site caretaker.

Staff from the Compliance and Environmental Enforcement Branch of the Ministry of Environment have been on-site several times. Environment and Climate Change Canada (federal) is conducting their own investigation.

Authorities say the local health authority, presumably Fraser Health, has been involved since the initial response. No immediate health risks have been identified.

“We are committed to providing updates to the public as new information becomes available,” B.C. Emergency Management and Climate Readiness (EMCR) said.

Chief Darwin Douglas of Cheam First Nation underscored the significance of the incident by saying water is the most essential element for society.

“Water is our most sacred resource. All life depends on it,” Chief Douglas said. “We must protect our sacred water resources, and wherever possible work to restore the health of our waterways. Indigenous people have Inherent Title and Rights to water within our territories, and more importantly, we have an inherent responsibility to protect water.”

Cheam First Nation contends dumped toxic waste caused a sudden drop in oxygen spanning several kilometers, resulting in oxygen levels dropping so low that all of the fish have died including the endangered Salish Sucker, as well as trout and juvenile coho.