The Yellow Fish RoadTM program lets students in the City of Burlington learn about the local watershed and how to protect it. This program is a national environmental education initiative launched by Trout Unlimited Canada in 1991.
The Yellow Fish Road program is a fun way to learn about the importance of clean water and to show how individual actions can impact a whole community. Participants make a difference by painting yellow fish near storm drains to remind people that anything entering the storm drain affects our water sources.
In 2024, Trout Unlimited Canada became Freshwater Conservation Canada—visit freshwaterconservationcanada.org to explore their broader mission to protect Canada's freshwater ecosystems!
Register for a program
To register for the Yellow Fish Road program, email us at yellowfishroad@burlington.ca or call us at 905-335-7777, ext. 7560 or ext. 7931 with your neighbourhood location and available dates.
Please complete the following registration forms to and send them to environment@burlington.ca.
- Volunteer Agreement
- Kit Booking form
- Participant Release Waiver
- Proof of insurance via Certificate of Insurance (COI) showing a minimum of $2 million liability limit
Watershed pollution
In most municipalities, household hazardous waste entering storm drains doesn't get filtered at a wastewater treatment plant before entering our streams and rivers. This can create an unhealthy environment for aquatic animals, such as fish. This type of pollution can also affect water quality and result in unsafe drinking water in our homes.
Why yellow fish?
Fish, and in particular rainbow trout, are remarkable indicator species. If trout are no longer in an area, it means that the water in that area is unsafe for human use. When we paint yellow fish by our storm drains, they remind us of our duty to keep our local watershed pollution-free.