Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum

Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: chris gadsden on May 08, 2020, 01:46:43 PM

Title: Pallet Fires On The Fraser River
Post by: chris gadsden on May 08, 2020, 01:46:43 PM
https://www.theprogress.com/opinion/column-endless-pallet-fires-are-burning-out-volunteers-on-the-fraser-river/?fbclid=IwAR0Tne1fYhxrW3Wa7oPdRpeC1y3CmmYSexS3waU9NeiPaU7Tgg7AAgaZ9rk
Title: Re: Pallet Fires On The Fraser River
Post by: RalphH on May 08, 2020, 04:17:22 PM
What happened to the deposit on pallets? Back in the 80s when I starting working as an accountant the company I worked for put a lot of effort in tracking pallets it received via deliveries and seeing they were returned for a deposit refund. As I recall back then it was $5. Are wood pallets are that cheap these days?
Title: Re: Pallet Fires On The Fraser River
Post by: chris gadsden on May 08, 2020, 04:35:46 PM
They say it was $15 at one time but none no deposit. I think they are still expensive, not sure of the exact price.
Title: Re: Pallet Fires On The Fraser River
Post by: arimaBOATER on May 08, 2020, 05:57:31 PM
Think there's this idea of burning wood on the shore is no big deal ...people having fun and only ashes are left.
Now if it was something these groups were throwing directly into the water...people would be more vocal and call this pollution and harmful to river and fish.
But the reality is these ashes / nails are pollution...and will harm water quality/danger to fish.
RCMP may think it's not our job...we are after other more serious crimes...

Good on those who clean it all up.
But those that started these fires should be the ones hauling it away.
Title: Re: Pallet Fires On The Fraser River
Post by: wildmanyeah on May 08, 2020, 06:01:08 PM
Is adding iron nails to the Fraser a bad thing??
Title: Re: Pallet Fires On The Fraser River
Post by: chris gadsden on May 09, 2020, 04:30:33 PM
Is adding iron nails to the Fraser a bad thing??
I am sure you see all that get dumped on these fires too and everywhere else in these areas that is left behind. Besides there is a $500 bylaw fine for burning them so I think there is a concern by some. It of course is also unsightly in what should be a pristine area along our rivers and elsewhere. I know I would not like having pallet fires on my property with nails left behind.

I know I did not answer your question directly, maybe others will.
Title: Re: Pallet Fires On The Fraser River
Post by: RalphH on May 09, 2020, 04:44:05 PM
Is adding iron nails to the Fraser a bad thing??

try driving over a pile of them. I won't drive on the Fraser bars like some folks do.
Title: Re: Pallet Fires On The Fraser River
Post by: Blood_Orange on May 09, 2020, 04:58:46 PM
Is adding iron nails to the Fraser a bad thing??

If it were one pallet I'd agree with you. But it's hundreds (thousands?) of pallets every year, representing hundreds of pounds of nails littered around the river.

Same train of thought as organic matter. If I throw my banana peel into the woods, it's not ideal but not the end of the world. If there were thousands of banana peels getting thrown into the same few spots in the woods it would become very slippery out there a cause for concern.
Title: Re: Pallet Fires On The Fraser River
Post by: wildmanyeah on May 09, 2020, 06:50:49 PM
try driving over a pile of them. I won't drive on the Fraser bars like some folks do.

So we’re concern that people driving on the bars wheels might get popped but we’re not concerned with the fuel, oil greeze and break dust going into the river?
Title: Re: Pallet Fires On The Fraser River
Post by: wildmanyeah on May 09, 2020, 06:54:18 PM
If it were one pallet I'd agree with you. But it's hundreds (thousands?) of pallets every year, representing hundreds of pounds of nails littered around the river.

Same train of thought as organic matter. If I throw my banana peel into the woods, it's not ideal but not the end of the world. If there were thousands of banana peels getting thrown into the same few spots in the woods it would become very slippery out there a cause for concern.

I thought the ocean generally iron deficient. When the Fraser river goes in to freshet  and the nice spring sun comes out. The combo of minerals and sun creates a nice diatom bloom. Very good for life 
Title: Re: Pallet Fires On The Fraser River
Post by: Blood_Orange on May 09, 2020, 08:31:49 PM
I thought the ocean generally iron deficient. When the Fraser river goes in to freshet  and the nice spring sun comes out. The combo of minerals and sun creates a nice diatom bloom. Very good for life

Eh, the article explains the concerns. You can check it out if you want more info :D
Title: Re: Pallet Fires On The Fraser River
Post by: arimaBOATER on May 12, 2020, 11:27:01 AM
If it were one pallet I'd agree with you. But it's hundreds (thousands?) of pallets every year, representing hundreds of pounds of nails littered around the river.

Same train of thought as organic matter. If I throw my banana peel into the woods, it's not ideal but not the end of the world. If there were thousands of banana peels getting thrown into the same few spots in the woods it would become very slippery out there a cause for concern.
Camped in a small trailer by a river bar. ( Langley area. ) our German Shepard dog got it's front paw cut really badly. Blood everywhere. Camping/fishing trip ended ...to the vet we go.
These nails can go on an angle ...wood /debris behind the nail...tire flat OR worse nail in kid's foot or dog's paw.
....Richmond has discarded masks on ground all over...see at least 4 everytime I go out exercising.
People are litter bugs. ( some )
Title: Re: Pallet Fires On The Fraser River
Post by: chris gadsden on May 12, 2020, 04:34:54 PM
If it were one pallet I'd agree with you. But it's hundreds (thousands?) of pallets every year, representing hundreds of pounds of nails littered around the river.

Same train of thought as organic matter. If I throw my banana peel into the woods, it's not ideal but not the end of the world. If there were thousands of banana peels getting thrown into the same few spots in the woods it would become very slippery out there a cause for concern.
This is how bad it is out there, a report from a friend who checked the area on the past weekend. He gives so much of his time cleaning up these pallet nails and illegal dumping.

"All weekend long pallet fires at all 3 locations. Friday 6 fires at Gill, 3 were pallets. Saturday 12 fires, 6 were pallets and Sunday 5 fires 3 were pallets. 
Jesperson was surprisingly quiet Friday night but there was a marked fisheries truck with an empty boat trailer there so they must have been out on the river. Saturday 2 fires 1 was pallets but lots of people. Sunday there was evidence of more fires later Saturday night but nothing else going on.
Pegleg fires every night as well with 3 pallet fires over the weekend. Sunday had no one there but left over pallets from Saturday night.
 Jesperson has at least temporarily been rather less active than usual, Gill has been getting worse. I don't know if it's because of the publicity or not.
 I will try to organize another cleanup at Jesperson if the city agrees to provide some enforcement but I'm not going to do anything at Gill unless they do the same there and enforce the posted signs."


Title: Re: Pallet Fires On The Fraser River
Post by: Blood_Orange on May 12, 2020, 08:40:52 PM
Geez, thankless job. Frustrating report, Chris.

Related question: What city department do you contact about garbage cleanup? There are a couple of homeless camps along a small river in Coquitlam that I fish often. There's more and more piles of garbage every week... looks like bags and suitcases of donations to a thrift store. The clothes get strewn everywhere and left to rot next to the river. I've taken photos of both camps as well as 7 locations between them with garbage. Also made a map with all the locations. If I email the city, will they follow up on it? What department? My best guesses after looking at the directory were Water Protection (Engineering) and Bylaw Enforcement. Should I CC the Tri-City News so they can follow up?

I know it won't fix anything long term... I do the Coquitlam cleanup every year and it's always grim. These two camps are pissing me off because I see the same garbage every time I go fishing and it keeps getting worse.
Title: Re: Pallet Fires On The Fraser River
Post by: santefe on May 13, 2020, 08:49:11 AM
In regards to dumping.  I live in Surrey,  When I see dumping  in the ditches on my walks   email the city and I usually get a fairly quick response.  So BO let the city know about it and monitor their response.
We need to contact our municipal, provincial and federal elected officials about issues rather than natter to one another about certain issues.
My 2 cts
Title: Re: Pallet Fires On The Fraser River
Post by: RalphH on May 13, 2020, 09:06:47 AM
So we’re concern that people driving on the bars wheels might get popped but we’re not concerned with the fuel, oil greeze and break dust going into the river?

Nice spin WMY! One of your best.

I'd go for banning the operation of any powered vehicle below the high water mark or using such vehicles to ford any stream.
Title: Re: Pallet Fires On The Fraser River
Post by: chris gadsden on May 13, 2020, 10:24:54 AM
Geez, thankless job. Frustrating report, Chris.

Related question: What city department do you contact about garbage cleanup? There are a couple of homeless camps along a small river in Coquitlam that I fish often. There's more and more piles of garbage every week... looks like bags and suitcases of donations to a thrift store. The clothes get strewn everywhere and left to rot next to the river. I've taken photos of both camps as well as 7 locations between them with garbage. Also made a map with all the locations. If I email the city, will they follow up on it? What department? My best guesses after looking at the directory were Water Protection (Engineering) and Bylaw Enforcement. Should I CC the Tri-City News so they can follow up?

I know it won't fix anything long term... I do the Coquitlam cleanup every year and it's always grim. These two camps are pissing me off because I see the same garbage every time I go fishing and it keeps getting worse.
The City of Chilliwack  and Fraser Valley Regional District works well with us and when we or others do "Hot Spot Cleanups" they provide a free dumping pass at the landfill.
We have 3 organized cleanups a year but because of COVID - 19 the first 2 cleanups for 2020 were cancelled. I guess during this time not the best time to be doing cleanups because of COVID.

At times our City crews do cleanups when we bring it to their attention. We, as you know have been working on this issue for nearly 20 years and feel your frustration.

I would contact your City and start up a conversation with them of your concern. Thanks for participating in your yearly cleanups, I know I came to one many years ago.
Title: Re: Pallet Fires On The Fraser River
Post by: Blood_Orange on May 15, 2020, 05:51:14 PM
Got my ducks in a row and emailed Coquitlam about the homeless camps on the river. A third one sprang up in the last couple of days. Bylaw dept emailed back within the hour and said they'd pass it along to the bylaw officer. Hopefully they follow through on it.
Title: Re: Pallet Fires On The Fraser River
Post by: chris gadsden on May 17, 2020, 09:08:09 PM
Got my ducks in a row and emailed Coquitlam about the homeless camps on the river. A third one sprang up in the last couple of days. Bylaw dept emailed back within the hour and said they'd pass it along to the bylaw officer. Hopefully they follow through on it.
Good work keep us posted.
Title: Re: Pallet Fires On The Fraser River
Post by: Blood_Orange on May 20, 2020, 01:54:43 PM
Good work keep us posted.

Bylaw officer called me today with an update. Didn't expect to hear back from anybody. They've got the ball rolling on all three camps but somehow none of the camps are Coquitlam's responsibility :o The first camp is on land leased by the city of Vancouver (despite being on the border of New West and Coquitlam). Bylaw officer said the city and police were taking care of that one today. The other two are on private land that belong to a business, though the camps are between business' fence and the river. He said the city would work with the business to call the police and clear them out. I'm heading down today so we'll see if they've made any progress. Have mixed feelings about getting them evicted but the garbage/stolen goods were getting out of hand.

Reminds me of the time I pulled a shopping cart out of the river and then saw a New West city truck in the park. Let the guy know there was a cart just over there and he asked me which side of the river. One side is New West, one side is Coquitlam. It was on the Coquitlam side so he said he couldn't do anything about it. I asked the guy to radio his Coquitlam counterpart and let them know about it. He said he would. Few days later someone had pushed the cart back into the creek and it's been there ever since. Still get a bit annoyed when I think about it  ::)
Title: Re: Pallet Fires On The Fraser River
Post by: wildmanyeah on May 20, 2020, 02:25:23 PM
Bylaw officer called me today with an update. Didn't expect to hear back from anybody. They've got the ball rolling on all three camps but somehow none of the camps are Coquitlam's responsibility :o The first camp is on land leased by the city of Vancouver (despite being on the border of New West and Coquitlam). Bylaw officer said the city and police were taking care of that one today. The other two are on private land that belong to a business, though the camps are between business' fence and the river. He said the city would work with the business to call the police and clear them out. I'm heading down today so we'll see if they've made any progress. Have mixed feelings about getting them evicted but the garbage/stolen goods were getting out of hand.

Reminds me of the time I pulled a shopping cart out of the river and then saw a New West city truck in the park. Let the guy know there was a cart just over there and he asked me which side of the river. One side is New West, one side is Coquitlam. It was on the Coquitlam side so he said he couldn't do anything about it. I asked the guy to radio his Coquitlam counterpart and let them know about it. He said he would. Few days later someone had pushed the cart back into the creek and it's been there ever since. Still get a bit annoyed when I think about it  ::)

reminds me of the traffic light on maple ridge/pitt meadows border that for years was left off as the two cities could not agree on who was going to pay to power it.
Title: Re: Pallet Fires On The Fraser River
Post by: bigblockfox on May 20, 2020, 03:52:47 PM
last time i fished the silver couldn't believe all of the homeless camps. unfortunately i cant see these issues getting any better till a federal or provincial strategy is in place. its becoming a real problem everywhere.