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Colwood's Lookout Lake gets spring cleaning

After all the waste was removed, about 150 rainbow trout were released by the Freshwater Fisheries Society.
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Volunteer diver Louise Vaschon gets ready to head into Lookout Lake to recover garbage. About 10 divers pulled cans

Look out for a new spic and span version of Lookout Lake with a larger rainbow trout population.

“We started to notice a lot of debris in it like empty cans,” said Colwood bylaw officer Rick Smith, adding alcohol is prohibited at the site. “If they are going to come up here for a (soda), they need to clean up after themselves.”

When the City of Colwood asked for help with the project, Wilson Dive Centre stepped up.

The centre brought 10 volunteer divers and three surface support volunteers.

“This is just part of our stewardship (of local waters) and as divers we enjoy doing it,” said Andrew Britton, a diving instructor from Wilson Diving Centre.

The divers submerged six metres to the lowest points in the lake and retrieved garbage and other waste, including a tire, a bike rim and plenty of fishing line and hooks.

“The fishing line isn’t a hazard to us, but it could pose a risk to swimmers,” said the dive centre’s Warren Fulton.

About 10 students from Belmont secondary school’s leadership class helped clean the beach around the lake.

Colwood firefighters were also on hand in case they were needed.

After all the waste was removed, about 150 rainbow trout were released by the Freshwater Fisheries Society.

reporter@goldstreamgazette.com