On July 19, 2004, the Rosemere Neighborhood Association sent the following request for a correction to Erik Robinson, environmental reporter with the Columbian. This email was not aknowledged, nor did Mr. Robinson issue the correction. [Read More...]
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Media Correction: RE Columbian article “Rank water a worry” – July 19, 2004
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SWIMMING MAY BE DANGEROUS IN LOCAL WATERS – July 14, 2004
According to an article in the San Francisco Chronicle, “Study finds pollution in coast rivers, hot spots have fecal bacteria that pose a danger to swimmers” (5 Jan 2001), this statement was reported in bold: “Fecal coliform, for instance, can cause hepatitis A, bacterial meningitis and encephalitis.” Fecal coliform is present in dangerous levels in many of the public swimming areas in our local lakes and rivers, meaning that these waterbodies are unsafe for human contact when fecal coliform levels are on the rise. [Read More...]
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Write Letters to Help Clean Up Burnt Bridge Creek – June 16, 2004
The Southwest Regional Office of the Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE) submitted a list of six projects to the Olympia office for consideration of funding a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) study. Burnt Bridge Creek was the ranked second among this list of six projects, but it was not chosen as part of the statewide priority list for this funding cycle (the cycle lasts for five years). Only 9 projects were funded statewide from four regional offices. [Read More...]
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Elevated levels of toxins in fish in Portland harbor – June 16, 2004
ELEVATED LEVELS OF PCBs IN RESIDENT FISH FROM PORTLAND HARBOR
Press Release from Oregon Health Services
June 16, 2004
Contact: Bonnie Widerburg (503) 731-4180
Technical contact: Dave Stone or Ken Kauffman, DHS (503) 731-4012Elevated levels of PCBs in resident fish from Portland Harbor
——————————————————————————–The Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS), in cooperation with Multnomah County Health Department, is advising the public today of high levels of PCBs in fish caught from Portland Harbor, in the lower Willamette River. [Read More...]
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Cleaning up Vancouver Lake – June 15, 2004
VANCOUVER LAKE TASK FORCE MEETINGS
To: Iloba Odum, Director, SW Regional Office, Deprtment of Ecology
From: Dvija Michael Bertish, Chairman, Rosemere Neighborhood AssociationJune 15, 2004
Iloba,
Attached below is an email that I sent to Betty Sue Morris last December asking to be part of the Vancouver Lake Task Force. I did not receive a response to this request, and suffice it to say that I was disappointed at what I read in the Columbian today as well as the Task Force’s media release. Everyone knows that RNA has been extremely active in this situation and that we want to participate in this process. [Read More...]
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May 1st Water Quality Discussion – May 4, 2004
May 3, 2004
Members of the RNA Board met with representatives of the Clark County Health Department, the City of Vancouver’s Public Works Department, and local Water Quality Experts to discuss failing septic systems and cesspools in the Rosemere Neighborhood and the Burnt Bridge Creek Watershed in general. [Read More...]
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Media Correction: “Burnt by Pollution” – May 3, 2004
From Rosemere Neighborhood Association
Re: Article By Erik Robinson, Columbian Staff Writer
“Burnt by pollution”
April 29, 2004In this article, Mr. Robinson states “Leaking septic systems are a major source of microbial pollution — at least 12.7% of the total, according to a 1999 study commissioned by the City of Vancouver — but the study also laid the blame on Mother Nature.” This figure has been widely misrepresented by the City of Vancouver in an attempt to downplay the severity of contaminants that come from human waste. [Read More...]
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RNA Advocates for Burnt Bridge Creek Water Quality Improvements – April 23, 2004
The RNA met with Clark County Health Department officials in March to discuss how failing septic systems are contributing to the pollution of Burnt Bridge Creek (which feeds into Vancouver Lake). There are several homes in Rosemere that do not have access to City Sewer Service. Neighbors approached the RNA in 2001 to ask how they could get sewer service where there are no sewer mains. There are cesspools and aging sewer systems in Rosemere (and throughout Vancouver) that are not being properly maintained or inspected. Water quality tests indicate that effluent from failed septic tanks is polluting the creek and is also creating a public health risk. [Read More...]
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Sewage spill at Frenchman’s Bar Park – April 15, 2004
The RNA received this response to our complaint from the Washington State Department of Ecology in Olympia on April 20, 2004.
Thank-you for voicing your concerns in this matter. Ecology was notified of the incident on the day that it occurred. This Department is actively investigating the situation at this time. The report will be available to the public upon the completion of the investigation. Please feel free to inquire after June 1st about the status of this investigation. Please refer to ERTS number 540239 when making inquiries. [Read More...]
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Vancouver looks to finish Burnt Bridge Creek Trail – a toxic area! – April 4, 2004
Vancouver looks to finish Burnt Bridge Creek Trail:
This is a toxic area. One would hope the Columbian has not purposely published propaganda. It’s a lovely picture, but this is a toxic area. Please stay out of it for the health of your family and your children. No doubt the “Powers That Be” are trying to promote the Burnt Bridge Creek project as a Green Jewel. It’s a dangerous jewel. Poisonous water, poisonous greenery, poisonous mud. PLEASE STAY OUT OF IT.
