Epcor is moving ahead with plans to eradicate invasive goldfish in a stormwater pond in the Glastonbury neighbourhood in Edmonton.
Plans to spray a pesticide formulation called NoxFish that includes rotenone were put on hold so residents could share their concerns with Epcor and provincial officials at a meeting on Aug. 19.
But in letters addressed to residents on August 26, Epcor and the Alberta government said spraying will proceed as planned.
“In the limited number of facilities where rotenone has been applied in the past, this treatment has proven effective and no additional follow-up has been required. We anticipate the same outcome for the Glastonbury facilities,” an Epcor spokesperson wrote in a letter to CBC News.
But not all Glastonbury residents are convinced it is the best option and are concerned on the effects of rotenone.
“We’re concerned that with this treatment, they’re going to absolutely annihilate any species of gilled, aquatic, insect, fish amphibian, etcetera,” said Brad Margolis, a resident who spoke to CBC Tuesday.
Epcor notes it has a legal obligation under provincial legislation to protect facilities free from invasive species to prevent the spread to the North Saskatchewan River. The Alberta government says it supports Epcor’s plan for the Glastonbury pond.
“Rotenone is the least disruptive and most successful eradication method,” Ashley Stevenson, press secretary to the Ministry of Affordability and Utilities, wrote in an email.
“Rotenone is approved for use by Health Canada for the control of invasive species such as goldfish and has been used safely across the country.”
Edmonton AM9:28West Edmonton residents are sounding the alarm over a plan to spray pesticide
Invasive goldfish are swimming through stormwater ponds in west Edmonton’s Glastonbury neighbourhood. To prevent the fish from getting into the North Saskatchewan River, Epcor says they are required to eradicate the fish and distributed notices to the community that they would be using a pesticide, worrying some residents about the effects of the chemicals. Dr. John O’Connor and Brad Margolis, who live in the area, join Edmonton AM to discuss why they’re concerned about the move.
Epcor said it is following all the guidelines for proper use to ensure safety as it sets up the site for treatment this week, adding that it has proven effective in the past.
The treatment has already been successfully used in other stormwater facilities in Edmonton, including Keswick and Donsdale, Epcor said in a statement to CBC. A total of four ponds were treated, with no required follow-up treatments.
Dr. John O’Connor, a Glastonbury resident and physician who has long fought against pollution in the oilsands, has launched an online petition over the use of rotenone to cull goldfish.
Margolis said residents have requested another meeting with Epcor and the province in the hopes of finding an alternative option. He said they recognize there is an issue with invasive goldfish but pilot projects underway in Calgary, where stormwater ponds were drained, could offer a safer solution.
“We want to work with both Epcor and the [Alberta Environment and Protected Areas] to find better ways that won’t put the wildlife and the ecosystem at risk.” Margolis said.
Invasive goldfish are swimming through stormwater ponds in West Edmonton’s Glastonbury neighbourhood. EPCOR says it is legislated to get rid of the fish but a group of residents is worried about the pesticide used to do that. Edmonton AM host Mark Connolly spoke with two of them about it.