Observation: [Unusual quantities of foam] Near Rosedale Bridge on northeast side of the Fraser river. Reported by Cheam Band members through the summer. Often noticed at dusk. The fellow that reported to me saw the foam just east of the Rosedale Bridge. His concern was that it was originating from the Agassiz Sewage Treatment Plant. I have spoken to the operator there. They discharge treated effluent on an ongoing basis. They provide monthly reports to Federal and Provincial agencies. He tells me that since I brought the foam to his attention, he has seen it on sand bars east of the treatment plant which would indicate it came from upstream. I have noticed similar clumps of foam on the water but I paddle on Sunday mornings. Typically that would be in the Bedford Channel between MacMillan Island and Fort Langley. I'm not sure it is unusual but some clumps are very small while others are of a significant enough size to be quite noticeable. I have not been able to capture a picture of the clumps to date. As the river is a significant source of food fish for many First Nation communities, the foam could be of significant concern if it indicates a pollution source. - Brian Standing, Environmental Public Health Officer, First Nations Health Authority
LEO BC Coordinator comment: Foam on rivers can be a natural phenomenon caused by fatty acids from the breakdown of natural organic material. These fatty acids act as natural 'surficants' which can cause foam. Foam on rivers can also be caused by chemical pollution or increased inputs of organic materials from human activities. Unusual observations of river foam can therefore be one indicator of the chemical and biological state of a river. Thus, unusual patterns of foam may warrant sampling and testing. An information sheet on foam on water bodies has been produced by the BC Ministry of the Environment. The Artist David Marchant recorded and photographed similar observations on the Fraser River in May of 2014. -- Dr. Tom Okey, Centre for Climate, Ecosystems, and Health, Victoria, BC
