ENVIRONMENTAL PHENOMENON UNCOVERED

 ENVIRONMENTAL EPISODES ON A CYCLING DAY IN PITT MEADOWS

Today I embarked on a cycling challenge from the Watershed Watch Salmon Society; it is a Cycle The Dike in Pitt Meadows event to raise awareness about environmental stewardship.

As I cross over the Golden Ears Way overpass, I stop to take in the construction project that has been going on for a few years, challenged by supporters and controversy, but finally moving closer to a completion date. It is the first ever Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows sewerage pumping facility sending waste across the Fraser River to a treatment plant in Langley — our local environmental marvel that may well become the example for other communities to follow. 

I would not refer to it as a tourist attraction but I also admit that I have been at that spot hundreds of times and never once stopped to have a closer look until today. It is massive and covers a lot of landmass on both sides of the overpass and then some. It is definitely a statement on environmental stewardship — at least that’s what the people hope.

I continue my journey westward and approach a fourth round-about at the entrance to Osprey Village near the shores of the Fraser River in Pitt Meadows. I am sure I have been here hundreds of times over the years, but only as a passage way to the quaint village itself. This time I stop before entering the circle, wave for the traffic to continue, as I dismount my bicycle, park it on the dead-end sidewalk, and stand there in awe. 

I take out my camera for a panorama shot of what is within the circle and then carefully cross over to stand there within — I see a myriad (abundance of) flora of all shapes and sizes; I also see a plethora of colours and smell fresh scents; benches and walkways are aplenty. 

The City gardener, overseeing the garden while I was there, tells me that roundabouts are considered to be an environmentally friendly way of dealing with traffic and some are now designed to collect rainwater runoff to water the decorative flora. This place is a true horticultural masterpiece; a success story worthy of a high level environmental or community award.  

I continue on my journey to find other never before acknowledged environmentally significant spots. 

As I cycle through a long row of trees in a forested area along side the Fraser River, heading west and away from Osprey Village, I spot what I call old growth trees … lots of old growth trees, nicely hidden from traffic and protected from logging licensees. 

The pathways are wide, giving enough space for people, pets and bicycles. Broken tree branches and dead trees have settled as they prepare to breakdown to add richness to the earth beneath them. Some parts of the broken trees have been turned into seats or benches; some pieces are big enough to display dedications or carvings by local artists.

Once outside of the shaded pathway, between the Fraser River and a dyke, I see a basic cement structure on both sides of the dyke way —  I have seen it many times, as it is impossible to miss; but, I have never given it any thought. I stop a passerby and ask her what this structure is exactly. She looks at me and says: “I really don’t know. I think it has something to do with flood control.”

I think about her answer and realize it could be true. All around the Pitt Meadows community there are ditches, big ditches. I have seen them almost dry and almost too full for comfort. I always thought they were meant to provide irrigation. It turns out they are, but they are also meant to ease pressure on the river during high flood periods. 

The cement blob I am standing in front of at this moment in time is located at what becomes a Slew or Slough (photos below) — a grimy swampy area between the river and the ditch way that eventually branches out to serve the many irrigational needs throughout the community. This manmade and man-controlled cement structure diverts water from one source, controlled by floodgates, to respond to a need elsewhere.

My enlightening cycling adventure, filled with often ignored phenomenon, helps me understand why the Watershed Watch Salmon Society paired with my cycling club to encourage cycling along this eco-sensitive route. Its goals are to raise awareness of our local important and significant waterways, and to defend and restore our wild salmon stocks and their habitats. That success depends on the human race. We all have a part to play.

So, what did I learn today? Our being astute and aware about the importance of our waterways, how we treat them and manage them, is key to the success of organizations like the Watershed Watch Salmon Society and others who share in those noble environmental goals and objectives.

This is definitely a day to remember.