The Golden Eagle Group has admitted to drawing from the North Alouette River, without a licence, to water its berry crops.

It did so during a dry spell this past spring rather than risk losing 200 acres of cranberry bushes, worth $5 million.

Federal and provincial politicians are now taking notice.

They didn’t before, at least not right away when resident Jack Emberly reported finding hundreds, if not thousands of small, dead fish in the river at the end of May.

Whether the fish kill is related to the installation of a pump in the river by Golden Eagle or water being withdrawn from it has not been determined. An official investigation hasn’t even been ordered.

But we do know that a pipe to pump water from the North Alouette was being installed on June 1.

The City of Pitt Meadows granted Golden Eagle permission to access the dike for that project, conditional upon them receiving the water licences.

We also know that Golden Eagle pumped about 100,000 litres of water from the river before receiving its new water licences – but won’t again.

The company applied for those licences in 2007 to more than double the water it takes from the river. Apparently it takes a long time to consider such applications.

Meanwhile, what has the ministry of environment done to protect the Alouette River?

The continued delay of any action even after an open admission by Golden Eagle only questions the department’s credibility.

To re-establish that credibility, it should act now, at least clarify its authority over provincial water resources – what are the consequences for ignoring the requirements for water licences?

Is this open season on the river?

Don’t not let this issue die like the fish.

– The News