Kristen Villebrun and Wendy Bush hoped they wouldn't have to pray for Chedoke Creek, but four years after they first raised alarm about the water's condition, they were part of an Indigenous full moon ceremony to do just that. About 50 people showed up near Princess Point on the dark and frigid Monday evening for the monthly ceremony, which was particularly special as it focused on Chedoke Creek. The body of water that runs into Cootes Paradise had about 24 billion litres of sewage and storm water runoff leak into it due to a gate being left open.
Residents are concerned about the large number of dead fish found floating in the Ausable River in Port Franks, Ont., and are questioning the safety of the waterway used by boaters and swimmers. The municipality of Lambton Shores said it was alerted to issue on Saturday, with reports that hundreds of fish of various species were turning up in the marina and along the banks of the river, which flows into Lake Huron.
While flood water from Whiteman’s Creek on Okanagan Indian Band land, near Vernon, B.C., have receded, the waterway is still running very high and the evacuation order for adjacent homes was expanded overnight. Megan Turcato has more on the damage already done and why the area isn’t out of danger yet.
A great deal more attention is being paid to polyfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS) in City drinking water after it was revealed In 2017, testing on Lees Creek showed the waterway is polluted with PFAS from the airbase base located just upstream. "North Bay has undertaken a study to evaluate options for enhancing its water treatment process to meet potential future regulatory changes related to per- and polyfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS)," says a news release from the City today.
An ageing pipeline crossing part of the Great Lakes has led to a standoff between the US state of Michigan and Canada. The outcome of the battle over Line 5, which delivers energy to the US Midwest and central Canada, will be viewed by many as a bellwether of how North America will balance its energy future with its environmental commitments. The most contentious part of the Line 5 pipeline - which runs from Superior, Wisconsin, by way of Michigan to Sarnia, Canada - sits on the bed of the Straits of Mackinac. The narrow waterway connects Lake Michigan and Lake Huron - two of the world's largest lakes.
A dispute is heating up between a Glace Bay fishing group and a Cape Breton non-profit environmental organization, and tying in a local MLA and the Cape Breton Regional Municipality over what’s being described as alleged toxicity in the water of a community dam. Donald McNeil, president of the Glace Bay-based #20 Dam Fishing Association, is claiming the water spilling through #20 Dam, located near a body of water that’s part of John Bernard Croak Memorial Park, contains “high levels of fecal coliform, a potentially dangerous bacteria, to both humans and animals,” based on a series of tests McNeil’s group conducted this past summer.
There have been longstanding community concerns about derelict boats in False Creek, according to the Vancouver Police Department. Pressure from locals regarding pollution, safety, and aesthetic issues has spurred VPD's Marine Unit along with Transport Canada and the City of Vancouver to embark on a project to clean up the harbour.
The New Brunswick government is seeking environmental approval from itself to dredge a channel and lagoon behind Parlee Beach to improve drainage. The Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture, which operates Parlee Beach Provincial Park, filed an environmental impact assessment document that lays out its plans in Pointe-du-Chêne.
Husky Oil has been fined $600,000 for releasing a harmful substance into a river in Saskatchewan. The Calgary-based oil and gas producer pleaded guilty Friday in provincial court to depositing the substance into a waterway full of fish. The charge came after the release almost four years ago of about 2.8 million litres of process water, a byproduct of oil and gas production and typically high in salt content.
Manitoba officials want Grand Beach Lagoon and Lake Winnipeg to go with the flow. Crews have begun work to help improve water flow between the two. “Grand Beach is one of Manitoba’s top destinations and we want to preserve this beautiful provincial park and its unique features for future generations to enjoy,” said Jeff Wharton, climate, environment and parks minister in a statement. “For more than a decade, low channel levels between the Grand Beach Lagoon and Lake Winnipeg have been a concern for many cottagers, park visitors and boaters. This important and strategic investment in Grand Beach Provincial Park further demonstrates our government’s commitment to protecting and enhancing Manitoba’s provincial parks system.”
