White liquid in Vancouver's Still Creek could be harmful to spawning salmon (VIDEO)

Earlier this month, video footage confirmed that salmon are returning to the heart of Vancouver – to Still Creek. This has been the result of diligent work completed over the past few years by the City of Vancouver and other community and business groups, which has included implementing stringent pollution control standards, the construction of a new fish-way at Burnaby Lake Regional Park’s Caribbo Dam and the restoration of a natural floor along Still Creek’s bed.

Prior to this month’s spotting, salmon were not seen in Still Creek for 80 years ever since the construction of the original Cariboo Dam. The dam is located on the Brunette River, which flows out of Burnaby Lake and into the Fraser River, and was built to control the rate of outflow to prevent flooding downstream in East Burnaby and Coquitlam.

However, despite all the recent work done to protect and restore Still Creek and the return of its ecosystem, there are signs that water pollution could still be an issue.

Several other videos recorded by Bruce Causier and submitted to Vancity Buzz shows a murky white substance flowing out of a pipe and into the Creek right next to several spawning salmon. According to Causier, the residue could be white paint that has been diluted by water.

The videos were taken in Still Creek near the intersection of Skeena Street and Cornett Road in East Vancouver.

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Image: Bruce Causier