Shuswap Lake. (Image Credit: Columbia Shuswap Regional District/File photo)

By Elora McCormack

Chase Beach Clean-up

Chase Environmental Action Society organizing beach clean up

Mar 20, 2026 | 11:36 AM

CHASE, B.C. — The Chase Environmental Action Society will gather volunteers to clean asphalt from the shore of Little Shuswap Lake on Sunday (March 22).

Chase Environmental Action Society co-chair Anne Grube said the debris on the beach is from a crumbling tire berm that was built in the 90s.

“There is asphalt and bits of cement that were used as part of this tire berm built some decades ago, but everything is kind of disintegrating and getting down into the shoreline,” Grube said.

“This is to make it look tidier — it’s a place where people go on walks, but it’s also on a major route of the salmon.”

At the time, the tire berm was made using recycled road materials, but Grube said the decaying structure has not only left litter on the beach, but has also leeched harmful pollutants into the water.

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“It was all approved and above board, but now with recent information and research about the problems with the chemicals from disintegrating tires being hazardous to various fish, we’re concerned about that as well as any other hazards it could be presenting,” explained Grube.

According to the Chase Environmental Action Society, 6PPD Quinone (6PPDQ) – a compound used in tire manufacturing – is acutely toxic to fish, including coho salmon and rainbow trout.

Four water samples were taken from separate sites along the berm, with three confirming 6PPDQ levels above 30 ng/L (nanograms/litre). The BC Water Quality Guideline limit for this compound is 10 ng/L and levels above 40 ng/L can be lethal for coho salmon.

The clean-up event is set the day before World Water Day.

“We thought if we had people tidy up, people would at least be aware that this is happening. We are hoping that people come down from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and we will provide a small lunch as well,” Grube said.

“It will be garbage-free, so we are brining cups and things, but we hope people will bring their own mugs and whatever else.”

Those wanting to help out can go to the beach at the and of Arbutus Street in Chase or find more details on the Environmental Action Society’s event page here.