Mitigation Program

Beginning in 2025, the BC Conservation Foundation and Vancouver Island University began shifting their focus from monitoring for 6PPDQ to mitigation. The research team has been investigating different potential end-of-pipe solutions, along with potential locations to construct and assess rain garden’s efficacy of removing 6PPDQ and many other stormwater contaminants (i.e., heavy metals, hydrocarbons and oils, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), etc.).

What is a Rain Garden?

Rain Garden Program

This project has two primary objectives:

1. Remove harmful toxicants from the environment before they can be transported to critical freshwater habitats for salmonids and
2. Educate the local community with regards to the benefits of rain gardens and possible end-of-pipe solutions.

The project has three primary goals:

1. Design and construct rain gardens in partnership with local community groups and municipalities in locations that have been identified as areas of concern with regards to the tire wear toxicant, 6PPDQ;
2. Once constructed, evaluate the efficacy of each rain garden for removing 6PPDQ; and
3. Host a one-day workshop in 2027 – 2028 open to the public that will involve sharing information about green stormwater infrastructure and mitigation strategies that are effective at removing 6PPDQ.

Ongoing Activities

Through 2025 – 2026, the BC Conservation Foundation and Vancouver Island University have been meeting with stakeholders across the east coast of Vancouver Island to discuss the 6PPDQ monitoring results and build a list of potential rain garden locations. Although some have been identified, it takes time to get approvals in place. If you know of a location that may be suitable for a rain garden (i.e., adjacent to a large area of impervious surface, such as a roadway, parking lot, and/or driveway), please do not hesitate to reach out to the program lead at htomlin@bccf.com to discuss the site.

Funding for this program is provided by