PaintedTurtleWine Blog

I hate to "dredge" up the past but...

 
It looks like the Burnaby Lake dredging project is moving full steam ahead.

The lake cleanup was originally scheduled for September 2009, but was stalled due to concerns regarding the endangered Western Painted Turtle. Research shows that an estimated 100 turtles live in or around the lake year-round. During the cold winter months the turtles bury themselves deep into the silt at the bottom of the lake. It is this very silt that is now being removed.

Currently the lake bottom is clogged with garbage, pop cans, plastic, glass, needles (ick!), lilly pond roots and yes, plenty of silt and sediment. Clearly the garbage is not healthy for the lake itself, or the tiny turtles taking up residence within. However, simply removing the garbage and sediment would remove the turtles themselves, and cause serious harm to one of the largest remaining clusters of the species.

 

Thanks to the Environment Ministry, dredging was postponed until ground penetrating radar could be tested and applied to detect the hibernating turtles. If any turtles are detected, dredging must stop in that area, or the turtles must be transported to another section of the lake, depending on how many are found.

In an article by Wanda Chow from the Burnaby News Leader, Project Manager Michael Wood is reported as saying; “This lake is somewhat of a landfill. Cleaning this lake out is going to have a huge benefit to all the [wildlife] that use this lake.”

Kudos to the Environment Ministry for looking out for the little guy, and kudos to the City of Burnaby for finding a workable solution! We're certainly looking forward to a clean lake, and a happy home for the Western painted Turtles.

An Ode to the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics

Thank you Vancouver Police Department for keeping the peace in our hometown, for keeping traffic moving at a fairly steady pace, for giving me directions to the Bedowin Soundclash concert - and for smiling all the while.

Thank you Yaletown for your free entertainment, covered patios with delicious beverages, stunning fireworks displays and cheery hot dog vendors.

Thank you Mother Nature for the beautiful sunshine that lit up our fair city, and the snow that graced the peaks of Whistler. (Thank you Cypress volunteers for creating a winter wonderland out of hay and dry ice).

Thank you athletes of Team Canada for, well, you know!

Finally, thank you International visitors. You are a spirited and lovely bunch, and you are welcome back anytime.

Thank you Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics!