Submitter: Lloyd Stock

Community: Lillooet

Date Submitted: March 31, 2023

Summary:

The environmental degradation of the Fraser River, caused by pollution and increased water temperatures, has resulted in additional stress on fish.

Submission:

Environmental degradation of the Fraser River



I have lived on the banks of the Fraser for near 18 years, and watched its state of ecological decline with yearly changes.



From municipal sewerage sludge leaching thru the river banks from septic holding ponds, to sewerage treatment plant discharge pipes without diffusers for dilution requirements, provincial enforcement has been appalling!



Now I notice our Canada geese will not feed off the moss on our side of the river that is impacted by entrained sewerage pollution from upstream, but rather prefer the moss on the other side of the river, despite its shades location.



I once saw the fresh water clam beds upstream on the reserve active with bubbles in low water of winter, but not anymore..I think they dyed off for the same pollution reasons.



Environmental degradation of the Fraser is escalating with increased water temperatures, that activates pollutant levels reducing oxygen levels adding to more fish stress.



If we stop treating the mid and upper Fraser as a sewerage discharge flow-way, we may just buy another 10 years before the final extinction of the Sockeye species.



Most environmental impacts come in fall-winter-spring when river levels are low, and aquatic contamination are highest. Just remember off season flows are only 10% of flows before going into flood stage. And going into flood stage is still only 50% of a 1:200 year event.



IMPACTS ARE ON LOW FLOWS WITH POOR DILUTION AND MAXIMUM YEARLY CONCENTRATIONS TO INVERTIBRATES, YOUNG SALMON FRY AND ACQUATIC ENVIROMENTS ON THE RIVER.



Lloyd Stock, P.Eng

Lillooet, BC