An environmentalist who has long criticized Trans Mountain for the effect its work has on Burnaby Mountain creeks said the worst case scenario came true during a torrential downpour Monday, as Eagle Creek overflowed its banks.
“This is my worst nightmare,” John Preissl said, as roaring water eroded a wide trench into a gravel walking trail.
The water was picking up sediment along the way and bringing it downstream where salmon are still spawning, Preissl said. The particulate matter can smother young fish and kill them, he has previously told the NOW.
“This is the worst thing that can happen to salmon,” he said. “This is not what we do to sacred salmon creeks.”
Preissl laid the blame for the situation squarely at the feet of Trans Mountain for doing pipeline maintenance work during the rainy season. He believes the washout was caused by overflowing sediment containment tanks.
“It’s sickening,” he said. “It’s absolutely sickening what’s happening here.”
Preissl said Trans Mountain should not have been clearing trees during the downpour, as it was likely leading to more silt running into the river. The NOW saw a backhoe moving logs and slash and could hear chainsaws working at the site Monday morning.
A Trans Mountain spokesperson said work at the site was stopped around 12:30 p.m. “due to the wet weather.” The company said the trail has been closed temporarily “to prevent further erosion and for safety of pedestrians.”
“Trans Mountain has extensive sediment control measures and mitigation efforts in place at Burnaby Terminal, including a water management plan, an erosion and sediment control plan, and ongoing daily environmental monitoring,” the spokesperson said in an email. “These measures are outlined in various plans submitted to and approved by the National Energy Board related to the work currently underway at the terminal.”
According to the company, the work currently underway at the tank farm is not related to the expansion project, which has been on hold since a Federal Court of Appeal ruling in August. Existing infrastructure is being moved, the spokesperson said.
“This work includes moving equipment to site, preparing worksites by removing brush and trees, installing temporary roadways and relocating existing infrastructure, including pipe,” the spokesperson said.
A previous version of this story reported that Preissl believed the overflow was caused in part by the company diverting part of the creek. That work was planned as part of the expansion project but it is not being done now, Trans Moutain said.
