The City of Surrey has shared the results of an effort undertaken last month to clean-up a "vital resource" in South Surrey: the Nicomekl River.
In a news release issued Thursday (Oct. 3) – following inquiries from Peace Arch News – city officials say abandoned and wrecked vessels, rafts and associated garbage was pulled from the waterway Sept. 9 to 11.
Supported by Transport Canada, a total of 11 industrial garbage bins will filled and hauled away, it states.
PAN learned in July that a cleanup plan was in the works, after a reader who shared a photo of accumulated rubbish in the river asked when it might be cleaned up.
At the time, Transport Canada senior communications advisor Sau Sau Liu said arrangements were being made "concurrently with upland property owners" whose land could be used by contractors to make the removal of debris from the river easier.
In the Oct. 3 release, Minister of Transport Anita Anand said the "bottom line is that we are taking action against environmental hazards in our communities."
"We are focused on keeping our lakes and rivers safe and clean,” she said.
Mayor Brenda Locke, describing the Nicomekl as "a vital resource," said the river "must be protected for future generations."
"The cleanup not only eliminates environmental hazards but also promotes responsible boating practices on the Nicomekl River," Locke continued.
The release notes the project was governed by the Canadian Navigable Water Acts and the Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act, and reflects the City of Surrey’s dedication to sustainable environmental practices.
"Ongoing monitoring efforts will ensure the long-term health of the Nicomekl River area," it adds.
