In a community like Squamish, it’s hard to believe we’re even talking about oceanfront access. We live in Sea to Sky country, how can this be an issue?
Squamish is a growing community, made up of approximately 25,000 residents and more than 600,000 tourists a year. Currently, there are only two areas that we would consider safe, swimmable areas- areas where people can physically get into the ocean in Squamish.
The first is the Oceanfront Development, which is going to be amazing when complete, but in the short term won’t be available at all. The other place is the Squamish Spit. Altogether there are approximately 260 meters of safe, accessible oceanfront, and the community’s about to lose 50 percent of that with the removal of access to the Squamish Spit.
A group of concerned citizens – under the banner of realignnotremove.ca – has developed a concept for alternative access to the Spit.
Working with Xwalacktun, a local indigenous artist, they have designed a piece of indigenous land art that doubles as a park for all user groups.
The end of the Spit is a special place, the wind is blowing, the ocean and the river are converging, the seals, fish, and birds are enjoying all that Mother Nature has to offer. And don’t forget the views – the Chief and Shannon Falls are another aspect of what Squamish has to offer.
The reason that the access is going to be removed is for the Central Estuary Restoration Project (CERP) that is being run by the Squamish River Watershed Society (SRWS).
In a media release they did on March 26, 2021, they stated “SRWS and their CERP partners are committed to working with all interested parties who want to be a productive part of developing collaborative solutions and will help champion discussions around the long-term health and enjoyment of the estuary in an environmentally responsible manner.”
Realignnotremove.ca would like to work with the CERP partners to be a part of that solution with our oceanfront park concept.
We believe that if the community of Squamish only has one place for people to safely access the oceanfront as we continue to grow there will be ongoing conflict between the various user groups.
To create the new park and maintain oceanfront access at the Spit we need the CERP partners to work with us. The next steps are studies to ensure that the needs of all the parties in this complicated ecosystem are met.
We have come up with a concept that meets the needs of the community, we are ready to partner with the Squamish Nation to ensure that we respect and honour their rights regarding the land use, and want to build it in a way that protects the Squamish Terminal, one of the key employers in this community.
There is a way that the community of Squamish can have greater access to the oceanfront and an amazing new park while protecting the salmon if we all work together on this solution collaboratively.
Nikki Layton is the President of the Squamish Windsport Society and member of the realignnotremove.ca campaign.
N_Dj says
Seems the logic, good intentions and good ideas these days are in conflict with some interest groups. This is an excellent idea backed up with the concrete plan and I fully support it… Good luck to the group realignnotremove.ca Wish your ideas prevail and we keep our access in balance with others…
Al Rutherford says
I drove down to Nexen Beach today. I checked with a local to make sure I was in the right place. Yup! This is it. Well it is a 20 foot drop over boulders to access the water. If you are part mountain goat you might have a chance navigating while carrying your gear. The fact that this city of 20,000 plus has such pathetic access to the ocean is mind boggling.
Apparently the area is going to be redeveloped. More condos with the de eloped getting massive tax breaks. There is something seriously wrong here. Water access should be readily available to all members of the Squamish community and visitors not become something for the privileged few.
John Peter says
Good read, but you forgot to mention that nexen, the other 50% of the access to the water, is about to be developed and inaccessible for two years. When complete out will look nice, but will have no accessible parking for those who like to recreate with gear they obviously can’t transport on the bus. Not to mention those who need accessible parking or the shelter of a vehicle when the wind is howling!
Nikita says
It’s a travesty that 25,000+ people living at the end of this magnificent fjord will only have one tiny beach to access it. And even then, the district is seemingly doing its best to make that one beach more of an exclusive feature for residents of the new condos and tourists arriving by floatplane, limiting road access to the beach and constantly reducing planned parking spaces.
Now is a good time to get this salmon island done. As the spit will be removed soon, it would make great sense to move that all that gravel and boulders to create this new structure instead of doing the work twice.
Don says
Good ideas but remember this was a working waterfront for years and we are just changing direction now. Also, why would the overtaxed in this town want to pay for a playground for the few. The money for the dike removal is coming from the feds fisheries funds to try and restore what was destroyed with its construction. Maybe do some fundraising to support these ideas.