Home Tipsfor Healthy

Streams

Home Tipsfor Healthy

Streams

Car and Driveway TipsOil, antifreeze and contaminants from car exhaustwill kill fish when washed off roads into stormdrains and streams.

Fix oil and transmission leaks. Place a drip trayunder the car. Never dispose of used oils andantifreeze into gutters or storm drains, all ofwhich empty into streams. Recycle used oiland antifreeze.

Wash cars with a minimum of detergent.Where possible, wash on gravel or lawns toavoid runoff entering storm drains. Neverdump leftover detergents or cleaningcompounds into gutters or storm drains.

Sweep your walks and driveways. Hosingwashes litter and pollutants into storm drainsand streams.

Avoid paving your lot. Consider usingporous asphalts, paving stones or bricks tolet water seep through driveways and walks.

During construction projects, keep wetconcrete from storm drains and streams.It is very toxic to fish andother wildlife.

If you live near a stream...Keep streams shaded. Trees and bushes keepthe water cool for fish and help stabilize thebanks. Do not remove streamside vegetationwithin 15 m of the stream.

Keep litter and trash out of streams. Besidesbeing unsightly, trash will collect into debrisjams and block water flow. Limit in-streamcleanup activity to the summer months.

Keep garden waste out of streams. Branches,grass clippings and weeds rot and reduce theamount of oxygen in the water.

Keep pets away from streams. Animal waste ispolluting. Pets entering streams can erodestreambanks and cause siltation; theiractivity also disturbs wildlife andsalmon living in streams.

Fisheries and Oceans Pêches et OcéansCanada Canada

Fisheries and Oceans Pêches et OcéansCanada Canada

Landscape with care. Despite goodintentions, changes you make in andaround streams may destroyspawning beds and fish habitat, orblock fish migration. Do not buildponds, dams or bridges withoutguidance and approval fromFisheries and Oceans Canada andthe B.C. Ministry of Environment.

The SolutionEveryone can take part in wisestream stewardship. Using thesetips will help keep our streamshealthy and beautiful now and forthe future.

For more information, contact:

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada(604) 666-6614

• B.C. Ministry of Environment,Lands and Parks(604) 582-5200

• BC Recycling HotlineIn the Lower Mainland: 732-9253Toll-free: 1-800-667-4321

Avoid landscape plastic which creates runoff.On hillsides, use burlap or landscape fabricswhich let water penetrate through to the soil.

If possible, redirect roof downspouts awayfrom drain tiles and street storm drains.Gravel drain systems filter and slowly releaserain into the groundwater stores, which laterenter streams.

Hot Tub and Pool TipsChemicals such as chlorine are very toxic to fishand animals.

When draining hot tubs or pools, direct thewater slowly into the ground or sewer system.Never drain water into streets and stormdrains.

Lawn and Garden TipsWeed killers and other pesticides can also kill animals,plants and beneficial insects. Fertilizer runoff causesexcess weed and algae growth in streams which reducesthe available oxygen for fish and other aquatic life.

Instead of weed killers and other pesticides,consider hand-pulling weeds and usinginsecticidal soap.

If you must use chemicals do not over apply. Usespecific spot treatments rather than generalbroadcast herbicides. Never spray near ditches,lakes or streams. Spray on windless days and notbefore or during rain.

Encourage insect-eating birds and friendly insects.Useful insects are spiders, ladybugs and lacewingsthat eat pest insects. Attract birds with tree cover,food during the winter and protection from cats.

Dispose of unused paint and chemicals correctly.Never dump into household toilets and sinks oroutside ditches, storm drains or streams. Followguidelines for disposal or recycling from theB.C. Ministry of Environment, Waste ManagementBranch.

Use straw, leaves, or grass clippings to keep downweeds and insulate the soil. Limit use of barkmulch near streams and storm drains, because itleaches toxins.

The ProblemWhen urban developmentcovers the land with buildings,concrete and asphalt, less rainsoaks into the soil. The waterstays on the surface and runsoff quickly into streams, ditchesand storm drains, which alsoempty into streams. The resultis “urban runoff.”

Urban runoff can pollutestreams. The runoff watercollects litter, oil, gas, fertilizer,pesticides and anything elsethat will float or dissolve. Theseuntreated pollutants flowdirectly into streams throughditches or storm drains.

Remember:

Under the Fisheries Act, it isunlawful to harmfully alter thehabitat of a fish-bearing streamor add deleterious substancesto its waters.