Nanoose Bay Styrofoam Cleanup

Nanoose Bay Styrofoam Cleanup an overwhelming success.

On Saturday February 16th 2008 Nanoose Streamkeepers sponsored a community volunteer cleanup drawing volunteers from the mid-Island area to Nanoose Bay to participate in the pickup of Styrofoam debris spread around the bay from the storm damaged marina. A diverse group of volunteers came together at the beach access at Nanoose Beach Road and fanned out over the estuary and surrounding beaches picking up Styrofoam and garbage. They filled a large 40yd waste container donated by Waste Systems Inc.

This was a real community event resulting in the majority of the Styrofoam being removed from the environment. This is especially important within the estuary proper where birds are already beginning to congregate for the upcoming nesting season and Wild Salmon fry are beginning to emerge within Bonnel and Nanoose Creeks.

With the amount of volunteers (aprox 75-100) we were able to exceed our expectations and remove the majority of the loose Styrofoam around the whole bay. There were a couple of small areas remaining we were unable to access but will be cleaned up over the next couple of weeks by the Streamkeepers.

Over the coming months another follow-up cleanup will be announced as we assess the main areas we need to focus on next. This spring we will be going out to the outlying Islands to remove loose Styrofoam strewn around the bays and beaches. If funding is sourced either through different levels of government or through the Snaw'Naw'As Band we will be removing the large remaining 100+ dock sections which require equipment to move.

Local politicians George Holme RDN Director and MP James Lunney joined in the cleanup. Refreshments were donated by Quality Foods, Red Gap store in Nanoose. Garbage bags and dumping fees were donated by the RDN. Thanks to them all for their generous support.