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Cash granted for water testing

As part of an ongoing relationship with the B.C. Ministry of Environment, Whistler will receive $6,000 for water quality sampling.

As part of an ongoing relationship with the B.C. Ministry of Environment, Whistler will receive $6,000 for water quality sampling.

“The municipality has been partnering with the Ministry of Environment, for the last three years or more, on developing water quality objectives for lakes and streams,” said Heather Beresford, a spokesperson for the Resort Municipality of Whistler. “What that means is throughout the valley we have water quality equipment and do ground samples to determine what flows through our creeks after storms. It will help us to identify what any contaminants are and tell us what to do about that.”

The RMOW undertook a similar study last year, and a report on the results is forthcoming. Then, as now, testing equipment was set up at Crabapple and Whistler Creeks, as well as at the bio-filtration pool.

“We’ve got high sediment issues in Crabapple and Whistler, and we need to look at why that is,” Beresford said. “As new areas get open through construction and other kinds of developments, the rain washes soil into the stream — and that’s hard on fish. It’s hard on their gills, especially young fish. Also, it clogs up their spawning areas.”

The money pledged to Whistler is a portion of $1 million the province set aside for similar projects to acknowledge World Water Day, which was March 20.