Garbage from by Cowichan River washing down to Cowichan Bay
I am sure everyone has seen the mess along the Cowichan River as they drive over the Silver Bridge or walk along the pathway beside it.
There is garbage piled up everywhere with broken bottles, blue tarps, sleeping bags, clothes and discarded needles everywhere. Homeless people build their shelters, collect garbage, and when they move on the mess is left behind. I would like to compliment all the volunteers that clean up along the river on their own time but can only do so much.
We have a problem, but the bigger issue is what’s happening downstream today. If we have a look at the river bank after this record amount of rain and high water levels there is no garbage anywhere, it’s all downstream in Cowichan Bay. There are plastic tarps and bottles floating on the surface, plus all the garbage underwater that’s not visible like the discarded needles and other paraphernalia.
We all enjoy walking the estuary or kayaking the bay, but if this continues our waterways will become similar to a third world country.
Doug Prenevost
Cowichan Bay