The City of Campbell River will begin removing the few dozen invasive goldfish found in the Erickson Pond. The remediation process, which kicked off Oct. 7, is expected to last about two weeks.
The Erickson Stormwater Pond is located in a residential area off Erickson Road. The purpose of the pond is to capture rainwater during periods of heavy rainfalls, which helps to manage the water's return to the environment, states an Oct. 3 media release from the City of Campbell River.
The pond is connected to the Willow Creek Watershed, which means any impacts to the pond also impact the watershed.
In 2023, the City received reports of goldfish in the pond and a survey found a few dozen of these invasive fish. This is concerning due to their resiliency in various conditions, high reproductive rate and ability to spread, states the release.
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“Goldfish are – simply put – not for the wild,” said Steve Roehr, the City's operations and utilities manager. “This species causes harm to the natural environment here in Campbell River and it’s necessary to remove them.”
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To remove the fish, water will be pumped out of the pond, and any amphibians will be rescued and re-introduced once the work is complete. The goldfish will then be removed.
During the remediation work, trails around the pond will be closed to allow for safe operation of equipment.
The work requires extensive environmental permitting, which has been completed over the spring and summer of 2024.
The City said it hopes to avoid work like this in the future and urges the public to familiarize themselves with the 'Not for the Wild' educational campaign that explains the risks – and costs – of releasing invasive species into the environment.
To help, residents can learn to keep these species properly contained, dispose of invasive species responsibly and report any findings of invasive species.
Learn more about invasive species management in Campbell River here.
