Volunteers organizing a cleanup of the Katzie Slough on Saturday, a symbolic precursor to the huge effort needed to restore the Pitt Meadows waterway to its former health.
Last summer, a university student found elevated levels of E. coli bacteria and other contaminants in the slough. Julie Porter, a SFU student working toward a masters in ecological restoration, produced a study titled Changes in Water Quality in Katzie Slough. Her findings were summarized in a recent column by Jack Emberly.
Watershed Watch volunteers were back at the slough last week, taking more water samples.
“We want to know what the qater quality is like, so we have enough science to back our claims,” said group spokesperson Lina Azeez.
Each test costs $300, so Azeez cannot afford to take many samples. But her group is applying for funding from the Habitat Conservation Trust Fund.
Azeez explained that Porter took samples from 11 sites, and did lab testing for five of them. For all 11, she measured temperature, dissolved oxygen, turbidity and pH levels (acidity).
Azeez said the lab testing needs to continue.
As usual, on a visit to the slough, the volunteers last week didn’t need a microscope to find problems. They reported seeing the unnatural colours of oil on the surface of the water, and invasive species like parrot’s feather running amok.
Azeez wants to take the test results to Pitt Meadows city hall.
“I will share with them the science, and make my recommendations on what we need to do next,” she said.
“The city needs a restoration plan for the Katzie Slough,” Azeez added. “We’re not seeing a plan yet.”
She did not want to share her recommendations before presenting them to Pitt Meadows council, but said water flow will be critical to a healthy waterway.
“We need to get the water moving – that’s the most important thing for that slough.”
The city’s first environmental stewardship officer said city hall is in the process of setting its priorities for protecting ‘The Natural Place.’
“The city is aware of Julie’s great work collecting data,” said Suzanne Sloboda, which she said showed a “slight exceedance” of E. coli in two locations during August 2016.
Sloboda said temperatures are high and dissolved oxygen low in waterways during the summer. What’s needed now is more data to analyze, and get a fuller picture.
The city has approved the expenditure of approximately $10,000 for water quality monitoring equipment. Sloboda is a qualified environmental professional and could collect samples for lab analysis.
“The city is definitely committed to working with all of our community partners,” said Sloboda, adding that Watershed Watch, the Friends of Katzie Slough and the Katzie First Nation have all been involved in the slough rehabilitation conversation.
“We’ve had great synergy in the city,” said Sloboda.
The city is going to be creating an environmental inventory and management plan, which will be done with public consultation.
“So it’s a community document – we want to hear from the community, and their values,” she said.
Sloboda plans to be at the slough cleanup event on Saturday. While she agreed the work itself will not be a game changer for the slough, she sees it as a valuable exercise.
“It’s important to create awareness, it’s important to care about our natural environment, and it’s important to engage the community in that.”