Volunteers with the Peninsula Streams Society removed two tons of marine flotsam and jetsam — including hazardous materials — from Cadboro-Gyro Park Tuesday after they responded to a report of two boats washing ashore after the recent storm.
The society put out an emergency call for volunteers once they were informed that the contents of two pleasure crafts, a 25-foot and a 35-foot vessel, were littering the beach.
“One boat looks like it could be salvaged, but the other has a hole in the hull,” said Kyle Armstrong, restoration co-ordinator with the habitat conservation organization. “Both were filled with chemicals dangerous to the environment, including kerosene, paint remover, gas and oil.”
Six volunteers turned up on short notice to help with collecting the debris into a pile for the District of Saanich to haul away.
While the organization has organized up to 10 beach cleanups in the past year and a half, this was the first time they responded to a boat grounding.
The cleanup was more challenging due to the high tide.
Armstrong said the crew plans to return in the next week or two to follow up, as there is likely more debris still floating from the two boats.
