North Okanagan

Photo: Contributed - Regional District North Okanagan

Regional District North Okanagan staff and volunteers hauled out dozens of bags and larger debris during a stream clean up in Coldstream Sunday.

The team effort, part of the Adopt-a-Stream Program and the Great Canadian Shoreline Clean Up, spent the morning removing over a dozen bags of garbage, several bags of recyclables, and even a truck canopy from along Vernon Creek, north of Kalamalka Lake.

“This is the third cleanup the staff team has done on the stretch,” said Jennifer Miles, water sustainability co-ordinator with Greater Vernon Water.

One of the most common items found during the stream clean up were cigarette butts.

“It’s unfortunate that cigarette butts are being littered along our streams,” said Miles. “Not only are they a fire hazard, as they can smolder for up to three hours, but the arsenic, lead, and other chemicals left in the filters contaminate our streams.”

The Adopt-a-Stream Program encourages community involvement in protecting local waterways. Program participants are provided a clean up kit and can take advantage of water quality and ecology training from RDNO staff.

Greater Vernon residents interested in adopting a stream can call 250-550-3700 or go online for more information.