The City of Campbell River is removing invasive goldfish from the Erickson Stormwater Pond, with work getting underway October 7, 2024 and continuing for an estimated two weeks.
The Erickson Stormwater Pond is located in a residential area off Erickson Road and is intended to collect rainwater during high inflows to regulate its re-entry into the environment. The pond is connected to the Willow Creek Watershed, which means any impacts to the pond also impact the watershed.
In 2023, the City received reports of goldfish in the pond and a survey found a few dozen of these invasive fish. This is concerning due to their resiliency in various conditions, high reproductive rate and ability to spread.
“Goldfish are – simply put – not for the wild,” said Steve Roehr, Operations Manager, Utilities for the City of Campbell River. “This species causes harm to the natural environment here in Campbell River and it’s necessary to remove them.”
To remove the fish, water will be pumped out of the pond and any amphibians found will be salvaged and re-introduced once work is complete. The goldfish will then be removed.
During the remediation work, trails around the pond will be closed to allow for safe operation of equipment.
The work requires extensive environmental permitting, which has been completed over the spring/summer of 2024.
The City hopes to avoid work like this in the future and is asking the public to familiarize themselves with the ‘Not for the Wild’ educational campaign that explains the risks – and costs – of releasing invasive species into the environment. To help, residents can learn to:
- keep these species properly contained
- dispose of invasive species responsibly
- report any findings of invasive species
Learn more about invasive species management in Campbell River at: www.campbellriver.ca/invasive-species.
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Contact: Steve Roehr, Operations Manager, Utilities | 250-203-3973 | steve.roehr@campbellriver.ca
NEWS RELEASE: WORK TO REMEDIATE ERICKSON STORMWATER POND SET TO BEGIN OCTOBER 8, 2024