Citizens are calling upon the District of Squamish council to implement the Marine Action Strategy to provide for a better boat launch in town.
Squamish is in dire need of functional and safe boat launch, says Colin Smith, who recently wrote to the council about this issue.
“I am a life-long boater (fishing, prawning, sailing), and the current launch is both highly inadequate and very dangerous at low tides, even mid-tides for tandem trailers,” Smith wrote.
Smith said there is a huge contingent of boaters in Squamish, and it is a widely discussed and passionately advocated issue.
“Not only is the current launch on private land, but the launch ramp drops off after a certain point, making it unusable at over half of the tide-based sea levels, he said.
Several boats, trailers and vehicles have been damaged at this launch, he added.
Another resident, Liz Graves, wrote that the closest alternative is Porteau Cove, which is far when under tow.
“It is also essentially unusable during the summer weekends due to additional traffic and congestion,” Liz wrote.
“As our town and the local boating community grows, we urgently need a safe launch that can facilitate our needs. The demand has been further amplified due to COVID-19 and the prioritization of local-based activities,” she wrote.
The Squamish Marine Strategy, adopted by council in 2018, calls for an interim public boat launch solution.
Small boat launch, parking, washrooms, and space for community groups, storage, rentals, and marine store, multi day moorage are some are some areas the marine strategy targets.
