NEWS photo Terry Peters

GRAHAM Knell documents dumping in Hoskins Creek while Jane Richardson takes a water sample. Building materials and household waste litter the creek corridor. Poor water quality is not a result of residents’ abuse of the stream. Ground water high in iron oxides causes the murky mess.

pver creek dump

Refuse in Hoskins creek irks residents

Layne Christensen

News Reporter layne@nsnews.com

JANE Richardson has a message for the resi- dents of Haverhill Place: Hoskins Creek is not a dump.

The Lynn Valley resident was shocked to find house- hold waste and housing mate- rials littered near the neigh- borbood creck on a recent i Richardson was there

12 with environment sci- ence student Graham Knell to

document the waste as part of

a streamkeepers course the nwo had taken.

“You would not believe the garbage here. J think the home — owners should be forced to clean it up id Richardson. “It’s terrible

What the two researchers found: ane ¢ bike, fold- ing lawn chairs, a plastic watering can, planter boxes,

ber tires and a) garden

Also dumped along the creek corridor are construc: tion materials in luding corru-

ing, metal windows and

ken Santa lends a fe the mess

Hoskins is a tributary to Hastings Cre , North Shore streams, it bearing and home to wildlite. Mel Koryk, manager af North Vancouver Di s environ- mental protection — depart: ment, said signs are posted at all creek cros ings fo promote the protection of natural habi- tat.

Kortvk said he was not aware of the Hoskins dump site. He sent staff to invest- gate on | 15 following a phone call fiom Richardson.

Two homes in the 1600- block Haverhill back onto the

ive air to

ereek. Richardson believes the materials came trom there. “Where d y think their waste go she avked. “Don't they want their kids and grandkids to have the woods and creek to enjoy?” But Kotyk is careful not to point the finger, “Sometimes they (the culprits) are neigh- be metimes they are nor.” ren Munro, coordinator Shore said Hoskins reck neighbors should not ingled out.

his happens in a lot of

areas and GCs untortunat

three steps to dealing with ICBC

1. Gathering evidence to determine fault and the amount of damages

it's not very good for the creek, it also provides habicat for mice and rats ... but there are a lot more serious prob- lems that happen on streams than this.”

Kowk said the district needs the public’s support in helping to keep ¢ clean,

“[ look at our streams aya community asset and E really look for the community to help us in’ this regard.” he said.

Kotyk said suspected dumping should be reported to othe district’s attention when it happens, by calling the distriet’s 24-hour dispatch

2. Assessing the evidence to determine who is at fault and thé proper amount of money to be paid in compensation for

damag

3. Collecting the aniount as

sand No-Fault benefits sed from ICBC

Each of these steps can be extremely complicated

BEFORE YOU SETTLE SEE US

ARDAGH HUNTER TURNER

986-4366

AFTER HOURS 926-3181

Criminal matters only.

#300-1401 LONSDALE Ave. NORTH VAN. E-mail: hunter@cyberion.com

line at 98. so that a crew can inve

Dumping is in violation of the District's Environmental Protection bylaw and subject

to a $250 fine. Dumpers may

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