at Maplewood Flats

Update on Copper Contamination of the Wetlands at the Conservation Area at Maplewood Flats

Photo by Maddie Edmonds

In the summer 2019 issue of Wingspan we reported on finding very high copper levels in water quality tests of the Conservation Area wetlands. At high levels, copper is toxic to life and amphibian surveys of the wetland system indicates the wetlands with high copper have no amphibian breeding. Just as the WBT began fundraising for resources to address the contamination, we learned that coincidentally, Environment Climate Change Canada was planning soil testing on the site.

ECCC leases the Maplewood Flats Conservation Area from the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority (Port) and then contracts the Wild Bird Trust to manage the conservation area on their behalf. ECCC are the agency that operate of the Pacific Environmental Science Centre (PESC), the research facility located at Maplewood Flats. This ECCC Phase II Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) fieldwork is a result of a Phase I ESA that had been undertaken previously. This assessment looks at sites from a historical use perspective. The Phase I ESA identified that fill brought to the site in the past had the potential to impact soil and/ or groundwater. After positive and productive discussions with the PESC, the Port, the WBT, and contractors, the Phase II ESA will include thorough testing of the groundwater well supply, the wetlands and adjacent soils. We are excited to be working collaboratively with ECCC on this issue. Visitors to the site over the winter may see a small drill rig operating off the trails, collecting samples for this research. This work brings us one step closer to finding the source of the water contamination.