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There's not a water advisory on the Stawamus River: FNHA

Portion of Mamquam Blind Channel on Squamish Nation land does have advisory in place
First Nations Health Authority (FNHA)
First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) advisory.

Is there poop in the river? Squamish social media has been aflutter for the last week with stories of the Stawamus River polluted with fecal matter, and thus becoming unswimmable.

But that rumour doesn't seem to be correct, though there is a local water issue to be aware of.

The concern appears to be regarding a part of the Mamquam Blind Channel, not the Stawamus River.

The First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) took a water sample at the beachfront access of Squamish Nation reserve land on the Mamquam Blind Channel and this water did have a high fecal count, and thus an advisory went up on Friday, July 24 that it was not safe to swim there.

 “FNHA has recommended a precautionary Swimming Advisory for the Mamquam Channel beach after a water sample showed potentially dangerous levels of fecal matter in the water,” FNHA said in a statement to The Squamish Chief.

“This advisory does not apply to canoeing, kayaking, or standup paddleboarding.”

The FNHA will be re-sampling in the coming days and will lift the advisory once the result is satisfactory.

FNHA confirmed that their samples for the Stawamus River were satisfactory and that no advisory was placed at the river.

"This is consistent with testing that the District of Squamish undertakes higher up on the Stawamus River in relation to the District’s surface water source," reads a statement from District of Squamish staff.

 

*Please note, this story was updated after The Chief heard from the FNHA.

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