Stoney Creek Strategy Session with Burnaby North - Seymour MP and Parliamentary Secretary for DFO Terry Beech; Burnaby - Lougheed MLA Katrina Chen; Stoney Creek Environmental Committee (SCEC) President John Templeton as well as stream keepers from SCEC and neighbouring creeks. Topic how to end sewage from entering Stoney Creek from nearby manholes that to often spew sewage.

1. Saving Stoney Creek
Preliminary Strategy Session
November 12th, 2020 – Virtual Video Call
Presentation by: George Kovacic

2. Disclaimer
- I am not an expert in this area. Data collected and obtained via FOIs,
correspondence with the authorities as well as websites and independent experts.
Then pieced together facts and interpreted.
- I may have interpreted the data incorrectly. If there is anything incorrect please let
me know.
- A reasonable attempt was made to locate and provide relevant information. That
said, this presentation is not all inclusive only select documents provided.
- Awaiting for additional information and/or replies from Metro Vancouver, Cities of
Coquitlam, Burnaby, Port Moody, Environment Canada, Oceans and Fisheries
Canada and others
- To access the data as well future information send me an email
(gkovacic@telus.net) requesting access to the file. Then please review and make
your interpretations and share with me.
- Environment is very dynamic hence data obtained may no longer be relevant
- Environment is very complex due to different jurisdictions
- Metro Vancouver
- Cities of Coquitlam, Port Moody and Burnaby
- Government of BC
- Government of Canada

3. Stoney Creek – the lifeline of an ecosystem
endangered by sewage
• Home to Chum, Coho, Steelhead,
Trout … as well as Nooksack dace.
• Nooksack dace is considered a
genetically distinct subspecies of
longnose. I understand there is
only 10,000 of these fish and some
live in Stoney Creek
• Bears, bobcats, racoons, blue
herons, woodpeckers … … … … … …
• Sewage can contain COVID. Could
animals transmit COVID and other
diseases in-between animals and
to humans?

4. What we know:
Screenshot from TriCityNews website – print edition February 13, 2020

5. What we know – Sewage in Stoney Creek
• According to City of Coquitlam Records:
• January 31, 2020 – Oakdale Park
• January 3, 2019 – Oakdale Park
• December 13, 2018 – Oakdale Park
• December 11, 2018 – Oakdale Park
• November 26, 2018 – Oakdale Park
• January 29, 2018 – Oakdale Park
• January 14, 2016 – 915 North Rd
• November 7, 2015 – Oakdale Park
• November 3, 2014 – 915 North Rd
• From John Templeton – evidence of
sewage contamination found in Creek

6. What we know – Sewage in Stoney Creek
• The incidents are probably much
higher
• Runaround when reporting
• City of Burnaby Contaminated
Site Specialist -Saleh Haidar
• February 2, 2020
• 16:15 – Tried contacting Coquitlam
dispatch but keep getting
disconnected
• 16:40 – Tried calling Coquitlam again
and the line still doesn’t connect

7. What we know – Sewage in Stoney Creek
• The sewage and oily substance
comes from Coquitlam
(upstream)
• Enters Stoney Creek via culvert
in Burnaby (downstream)
• It appears also manhole
spewing sewage behind Gilroy
951 – documentation has been
requested
• Appears to be a lack of
information and finger pointing
Adapted City of Coquitlam map 2018
Burnaby Coquitlam

8. What we know – Undersized Sewer System
Figure 5.2 from City of Coquitlam Stoney Creek Sanitary Sewer Study Final Report – dated September 25, 2020

9. What we know/understand – Upsize Coquitlam’s North Road line
• Coquitlam to upsize North Road
line from 200mm to 600mm –
budgeted for 2021 (budget
2021)
• Confusion when or if the
downstream 250mm Stoney
Creek Sanitary Trunk line will be
upsized
“Metro Vancouver had their trunk
sewer scheduled for upsizing in
past 10 year capital plans but
removed it.”

10. What we know/understand – Upsize Coquitlam’s North Road line
• Currently the 200mm Coquitlam
North Road line flows into the
250mm Stoney Creek Trunk line.
• It appears that the 250 mm
Stoney Creek Trunk could be
already undersized prior to the
extra flow from the 200mm
Coquitlam North Road line.
Adapted City of Coquitlam map 2018
MV Stoney Creek
Trunk Line - 250mm
Coquitlam North Road Line
200mm to 375mm/600mm
250mm???

11. What we know/understand – Unknown when
Stoney Creek Trunk line will be upsized
• Current (2020)
250mm?? + 200mm = (450mm??)
250mm
• Future (2021) planned
Adapted City of Coquitlam map 2018
MV Stoney Creek
Trunk Line - 250mm
Coquitlam North Road Line
200mm to 375mm/600mm
250mm???
250mm?? + 375/600mm = (625/850mm??)
250mm
?

12. What we know – Bottleneck
Stoney Creek Trunk – Meeting Notes – Monday October 26, 2020 email sent by John McMahon,
Lead Senior Engineer – Metro Vancouver

13. What we know – Bottleneck
Stoney Creek Trunk – Meeting Notes – Monday October 26, 2020 email sent by John McMahon,
Lead Senior Engineer – Metro Vancouver
“Initially it was surmised that there might be a local
bottleneck in one section of the trunk near North
Road. Additional analyses now confirm that with the
new growth and the I&I* challenges, the capacity issue is
not localized. The entire Stoney Creek Trunk will need to
be upgraded as removing a bottleneck in one section
only transfers the bottleneck downstream.”
*Inflow and Infiltration

14. Questions – Bottleneck
- Will upsizing the Coquitlam North Road line, “only
transfer the bottleneck downstream” to the Stoney
Creek Trunk line?
- To prevent bottlenecks should Stoney Creek Trunk line
and Coquitlam North Road line by upsized at the same
time?

15. What is being discussed – Sealing

16. What is being discussed – Sealing
- Understand from City of Burnaby Engineer Jonathan
Helmus that sealing could mean the bolting down of
manholes along Stoney Creek

17. Questions – Sealing
- Could sealing cause the Stoney Creek Trunk line to rupture
and cause an underground void?
- Could such a void result in all the sewage from the Stoney
Creek Trunk line to flow into Stoney Creek?
- Could such a void result in structural damage or worse to
buildings located along Stoney Creek Trunk line?
- Have any studies been done to determine if the Stoney
Creek Trunk line is a candidate for sealing?
- Have any studies been done to determine if the soil is prone
to voids?

18. Questions – Sealing
- What happened in
Edmonton (October, 2020)
- Sewer Trunk line caused
underground void.
- Size of void
- 3 meters long
- 1 meter wide
- 23 meters (75 ft) deep
Photo from https://globalnews.ca/news/7406568/massive-hole-61-avenue-109-street-edmonton/

19. What is being discussed - Temporary Relief Measures
- Flow diversion – “Burnaby will investigate possible flow
diversion to direct flow to alternative catchments to ‘free up’
Stoney Creek capacity by the end of the year”
- Additional Information requested
- Inflow & Infiltration (I&I) mitigation – “Port Moody,
Coquitlam, Burnaby, and MV (Metro Vancouver) will work
towards reviewing portions of the system for I&I, and
potentially mitigate specific I&I locations within the
catchment in 2021 (flow monitor, video, smoke, and possible
dye testing). It was noted that potential cross-connections
could provide a big impact.”
Stoney Creek Trunk – Meeting Notes – Monday October 26, 2020 email sent by John McMahon,
Lead Senior Engineer – Metro Vancouver

20. Questions - Temporary Relief Measures
- Flow diversion:
- Can capacity be ‘freed up’ in the upper reaches (North Road and Rathburn/Jefferson) with the largest
problem exists?
- If yes, how much capacity can be ‘freed up’?
- Inflow & Infiltration (I&I) mitigation:
- How much I&I needs to be ‘freed up’ to prevent the unacceptable existing spewing sewage incidents
- How much I&I needs to be ‘freed up’ to allow expansion of the Coquitlam North Road line to 375mm
or 600mm (200mm to 600mm – 3x capacity)
- What guarantees will the authorities provide ensuring that the Stoney Creek Trunk line
does not rupture?
- Have any studies or similar been conducted?
- Can examples be provided to counter the Edmonton incident?

21. Questions – Incorrect or Missing Info?
- Bob Denboer, (appears he is Senior Analyst Metro Vancouver
– Email dated August 17, 2020 ) - “FYI – I contacted Coquitlam
planning staff regarding the ‘timing’ of buildout over the 2016-
2065 period and was given absolutely zero guidance.”
- John McMahon (Lead Senior Engineer at Metro Vancouver –
Email dated June 24, 2020) - “After the flood and based on
some initial modeling results we again inquired CoQ about
growth plans. They are now saying anecdotally that the
growth may be higher than previously submitted.”

22. Questions – Incorrect or Missing Info?
- Advised by neighbours
that a manhole above
Stoney Creek (backside of
951 Gilroy) also spews
sewage.
- Requested details via
FOIs
- Appears not included in
report commissioned by
City of Coquitlam
Photo received from Coquitlam neighbour

23. What we know – Oily substance in Stoney Creek:
• Records have been requested
from Coquitlam, Burnaby, Metro
Van, Environment Canada and
DFO
• Appeared to be continuous from
mid February until April, 2019
• Intermittently thereafter

24. What we know – Oily substance in Stoney Creek:
• Records have been requested
from Coquitlam, Burnaby, Metro
Van, Environment Canada and
DFO
• Booms installed. Do not know if
any additional action undertaken
• Understand additional actions
should have been undertaken –
FOIs submitted

25. Questions – Federal Government Legislation
National Post Comment, July 3rd, 2020 – If there is loose COVID cash, what better use
than to stop the sewage flowing into Canada’s waters (https://nationalpost.com/opinion/if-there-is-loose-covid-
cash-what-better-use-than-to-stop-the-sewage-flowing-into-canadas-waters)
“The Liberals aroused fears last week that the number
of communities allowed to pollute with impunity for
another two decades is set to grow.
The government released proposed regulations that
the opposition says will grant even more municipalities
a 20-year extension before they have to become
compliant with federal standards.”

26. Questions – Fisheries Act – Section 36
(3) “Subject to subsection (4), no person shall deposit or
permit the deposit of a deleterious substance of any type
in waters frequented by fish…”
(4) “No person contravenes subsection (3) by depositing
or permitting the deposit in any water or place of
(a) waste or pollutant of a type, in a quantity and
under conditions authorized by regulations applicable to
that water or place made by the Governor in Council…”

27. Next Steps:
- Obtain answers to questions
- Send out newsletter to Stoney Creek watershed area
- Outreach to other stream-keepers
- Virtual Townhall meeting
- Media
- International media
- Petition and data mining for larger initiatives
- Submission of additional complaints
- Will submit regarding:
- Oily substance when FOIs arrive
- 951 Gilroy Crest (back) when FOIs arrive
- Other

28. To learn more regarding why I am doing this work?
Watch Luka’s World Adventures on YouTube

29. Quote received from John Templeton, President of the
Stoney Creek Environmental Committee (SCEC)
“People only remember what they
have experienced in their lifetime; if
we don’t take steps to protect this
today, there may not be a
tomorrow."
SCEC website - scec.ca

30. Open Discussion – What actions will be undertaken
by our elected officials to save Stoney Creek?
Terry Beech
-
-
-
-
-
Katrina Chen
-
-
-
-
-
Must include - Facilitating answers to questions and sourcing current valid plans/information prior to
commencing the upsizing of Coquitlam’s North Road line. This is scheduled for 2021.