Image: Cheam First Nation / For the second time in as many months, a toxic waste discharge has been discovered in a Chilliwack-area waterway, according to Cheam First Nation east of Chilliwack.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Toxic discharge

First Nation band says feds quick to respond to toxic discharge in Chilliwack waterway, but not B.C. govt.

Dec 5, 2024 | 8:45 AM

CHILLIWACK — For the second time in as many months, a toxic waste discharge has been located in a Chilliwack-area waterway.

According to a news release dated November 29 from Cheam First Nation, the latest discovery follows a toxic waste discharge in September that killed thousands of juvenile salmon on the grounds of a fish habitat restoration project from Cheam and Sqwá First Nations. The band says its ongoing water quality monitoring efforts led to yet another toxic water discharge.

“Through investigation by our staff and land guardians, we discovered a pipe spewing industrial waste into a ditch, dumping it into the fish habitat of Hope Slough,” Cheam First Nation said. “The pipe and waste have been recorded and documented on video. Adult Coho salmon are currently migrating through the slough to their spawning grounds. Evidence of this waste discharge can be seen for several kilometres downstream. This pipe is a permanent fixture which leads us to believe that this is not a one-time offence but an ongoing polluter to these environmentally crucial waterways.”

Cheam said it will cover the cost of the cleanup with RAM Environmental through their own resources as the provincial Ministry of Environment has declined to respond.

“We lift our hands to Environment Climate Change Canada who had officers on site within the hour. Cheam calls on the Ministry of Environment to acknowledge and step up the efforts to protect these waterways and hold the perpetrators accountable,” Cheam First Nation said.

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BC’s Ministry of Environment and Parks told Fraser Valley Today in an email that they received a report of poor water quality in the Hope Slough on Nov. 28 and have been following up since receiving the report.

“No dead fish have been reported,” the ministry said.

“We are aware that the Cheam First Nation has hired the Raincoast Conservation Foundation to investigate this situation, and the ministry is working closely with all partners, including the Cheam First Nation, to understand the nature of this new spill.”

The ministry reiterated that it is part of the “multi-agency response” undertaken to investigate the Sept. 24 spill, along with the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, the City of Chilliwack, the Fraser Valley Regional District, Environment and Climate Change Canada, and several health authorities.

“The following week, water quality had returned to normal, and Fraser Health and the City of Chilliwack identified no risk to drinking water in the area,” the province’s statement said.

“Although the source of the September 23 incident in the Hope Slough remains undetermined, multiple factors may have contributed to the fish kill.”

According to the ministry, information about the September spill has been posted online.