The federal government will oversee the removal of wrecked boats and other debris from the Alouette River over the coming weeks.
Social media posts that showed a sinking boathouse and wrecked boats in the river near the Silver Bridge on Harris Road caused a public outcry, and the longtime problem came to the attention of the federal government.
Working with Transport Canada, removal operations will take place in the coming weeks between Silver Bridge and the Pitt Meadows Marina, where the Alouette flows into the Pitt River.
Pitt Meadows resident Robert Mullin put photos online almost a year ago, in April of 2023 in a “Happy Earth Day” social media post.
“A disgusting mess by people that have no regard for the environment or our public spaces. Gets me fired up!” he said on Facebook.
Two non-profit groups started work to resolve the issue – the Vancouver Island-based Dead Boats Disposal Society and the local Alouette River Management Society. Recently Mark Caros of ARMS said he had been told the work would be completed by March 31. After paddling past the debris for many years, it sounded too good to be true.
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“Transport Canada stepped up and said ‘We’ll handle it,’” he said, acknowledging the federal agency. “I’m thrilled for our community but most importantly for Alouette River and its ecosystem that depends on a healthy river for its continued survival.
“This is a great day, congratulations to all involved, all these years!”
While an old wooden boat on the shoreline can have some aesthetic appeal in isolation, Caros said the sinking boathouse was loaded with junk and debris, and the numerous fibreglass boats left to sink decay are a hazard to the environment, and vessels in the waterway.
In addition to the boathouse site, Caros cited four more wrecked boats on the shores from Silver Bridge to the Pitt River, and about estimated there are four or five more that are submerged.
The cleanup is expected to begin soon.
“We have heard growing concern from the community about the safety and environmental impacts that these abandoned structures have on our beautiful waterways,” said Nicole Macdonald, Mayor of Pitt Meadows. “We are grateful to local residents and organizations who have played a key role in advocating for assistance and funding to see this work completed.”
“With wrecked and abandoned boats falling under the jurisdiction of the federal government, we are appreciative that Transport Canada has heard our concerns and is taking action to remove these boats and structures” said city CAO Mark Roberts.
Throughout this work, residents should anticipate parking restrictions, and limited access to the river and the nearby Alouette River Dikes trail while equipment is present, and vessels are actively being removed.
The contractor will try to minimize disturbances to area residents, but there may be some impacts to vessels operating and accessing docks in this section of the river. The city and Transport Canada are requesting any anchored vessels should be removed while this work is taking place.
Under the federal Wrecked, Abandoned and Hazardous Vessels Act, it is illegal to abandon a vessel; cause a vessel to become a wreck by failing to maintain it; or purposefully sink, strand or ground a vessel, among other prohibitions. Transport Canada warned it will make every possible effort to locate the vessel owners and hold them accountable under the Act.
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