Yellow fish program to serve as storm drain reminder

Bright yellow fish will soon be painted beside storm drains in Moose Jaw. 

Crystal Froese, chair of the South Hill Community Association, said it’s a returning initiative that existed in Moose Jaw years ago that’s being brought back. The Yellow Fish Road™ program is a partnership between the South Hill Community Association, Moose Jaw River Watershed Stewards, and Wakamow Valley Authority. 

“The yellow fish convey that what goes down a storm drain has to be rainwater only. Anything else becomes toxic to the water system and the environment,” explained Froese. 

Froese added that soapy water from washing a car or litter should not be going into storm drains, noting that during a cleanup initiative in Wakamow Valley by the South Hill Community Association this year, they picked up about three bags of litter around storm drains. 

Substances or debris that enter Moose Jaw’s storm drains flow into Thundercreek and the Moose Jaw River through Wakamow Valley. 

Mandie Kostiuk, watershed manager with the Moose Jaw River Watershed Stewards, spoke about the importance of paying attention to what goes into the storm drains for the benefit of wildlife and human recreation alike.  

“Yes, we do have our water treatment plants, but anything that’s recreational will be directly impacted from our stormwater drains.” 

The fish painting will kick off this Saturday, June 29, with the South Hill Community Association on 4th Ave SW at 9 a.m. Kostiuk said they’re planning to have around 20 children participating. “We do request that they have their adult supervision as well, so that we can remain safe.” 

There will also be fish painting happening over the summer with programs at the YMCA and City of Moose Jaw’s summer camps, targeted at children in grades 4 through 8.  

Find out more about this weekend’s painting and how you can participate by following the South Hill Community Association’s Facebook Page here.  

Donna MacQuarrie-Bye, Mandie Kostiuk, and Crystal Froese