Below is a letter that Lesley Weeks, the executive director of Tourism Squamish, has written to the District of Squamish regarding the proposed marine zoning bylaw.
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Our Squamish marine gateway and marine-based tourism development opportunities are very important to Tourism Squamish.
This theme is addressed in our organization’s strategic plan and in the Sea to Sky Destination Development Strategy.
We would like to highlight the importance of our waterfront and marine resource as a vital community asset for its social and economic benefits in addition to its ecological values.
We have followed closely and engaged with the District’s current Marine Zoning initiative. We would like to acknowledge staff’s response to our previous comments and the resulting amended zoning description to consider future ferry uses at Xwu’nekw Park water lot.
However, we are still concerned that the amenity needs, and opportunities are not being fully considered and assessed before marine zoning is fixed.
Specifically, we are most alarmed with the proposed P4 zoning for the Upper Mamquam Blind Channel (UMBC).
The “P4” zoning applies Ecological Reserve and protection to the area. The P4 zoning intent is to “protect and enhance land and water areas with high ecological value and to provide for limited public access and use”.
The P4 zoning does not permit docks or public boat launch and as written would not allow for recreational use of the waterway. The UMBC can provide a much-needed recreation venue for families and novice paddlers, with the adjacent Squamish Adventure Centre (restrooms, cafe), Smoke Bluffs Park trail network and ample parking.
This has been recommended in the Parks and Recreation Master Plan, and other UMBC planning processes.
Rose Park is currently underutilized, opening access to the UMBC will add vibrancy and align with Council’s Strategic Plan 2018-22 which includes: “increasing year-round utilization of our multipurpose space assets and public spaces (parks, public squares) by 2022.”
The Squamish Paddling Club has also expressed that the UMBC is an excellent venue for some of their youth programming (especially if selective dredging was completed). In addition, the Squamish Paddling Club currently promotes the “Adventure Centre Loop” as one of their three suggested routes – “a scenic sheltered 3.5 km loop from their boathouse.”
The current water conditions in the UMBC are not natural, there is restoration work required. It is filled with dredge spoils from previous uses, and from the 1986 dredging operation in the waters in front of the former sawmill which deposited large quantities of material in the channel above the two bridges.
This material is laden with organic debris, as can be seen in discolouration of the waters and bottom surface in the area, with negative effects for aquatic life and fisheries.
If a better streamflow gradient could be established through the UMBC by selective dredging of areas of high ground holding back tidal waters and tributary flows (as recommended by environmental consultants), the following benefits could occur.
1, More efficient flushing which would expose cleaner substrates for aquatic invertebrate production. (as well as add to the recreational and visual appeal of the UMBC at all water levels)
2, Contaminated sediments could be removed, thereby improving water quality, not only in the UMBC but throughout the entire channel north of the Stawamus River outlet.
3, The improved water quality would also add to the recreational and visual appearance of the UMBC at all tide levels.
4, Re-establishing the natural streamflow gradient would mean that the flushing action would be self-maintained, without the need for regular dredging. (Also of note is that neither the Loggers Lane nor the Wilson Crescent/ Carson Place sloughs bring gravel material into the UMBC, so this area is not a deposition zone for silt and gravel materials).
5, Navigability for recreational paddlers would be much improved.
6, It’s possible that the improved water flows and flushing of the channel and contaminated sediments would restore the area to the recreation zone it once was which included water play, splashing and swimming in addition to a variety of watersports.
7, Funding for restoring improved streamflow in the UMBC could come from various private or public sources, including possibly in connection with further work in the ongoing initiative to restore freshwater flow to the Mamquam Blind Channel, which was launched by the District in 1997.
To quote the Marine Action Strategy vision – “Squamish supports and celebrates its connections to the ocean, as a source of life, vitality, culture and identity – sustaining our coastal communities across generations. Shared marine resources are responsibly stewarded and enhanced so natural systems in Howe Sound thrive, in tandem with industry, economy, tourism and recreational opportunities that depend on a healthy marine ecosystem, and access for all.”
How important is marine culture to our community? If we are truly an oceanfront community, we cannot allow the land around the water to be zoned and developed without an integrated plan for our waterway. We need a diversity of water access points with public water access being integrated into all our planning.
We encourage you to consider pausing the marine zoning to allow for the amenity needs, economic opportunities, and dredging studies to be completed.
Lesley Weeks is the executive director of Tourism Squamish.
Don Patrick says
A 100% positive recommendation for the upper channel around the Rose Park …. was suggested in the 80’s as a Rotary initiative but stalled. Wonder does that area stink when the tide is out and the sun doing its thing … I think so, welcome to the condo buyers. cheers
David Lassmann says
The Mamquam Blind Channel is now mostly a backwater area that has only a small flow of fresh water coming through culverts. In my opinion the main environmental value is for small fishes such as Stickleback and salmon fry. You might see an Osprey, Kingfisher, or a Great Blue Heron fishing in the area.
Because no major flow of water occurs that might flush the channel, only human intervention in the form of dredging would prevent the channel from filling in with silt. The money that it would take to dredge the Mamquam Blind Channel would be better spend on more urgent District needs. Restoration efforts would be better directed towards the Central Channel which was once a branch of the Squamish River and could be again.
As it is, the Upper Mamquam Blind Channel could only be used for recreation during periods of high tide. I don’t see a problem with paddlers using the area, better that than the Central Channel or East Marsh which are within the Wildlife Management Area.
Nadine says
The UMBC may not be pristine from the beginning of time but it is now home to many species and you will see them there not maybe see them there.
Funny how people look at a mud flat and don’t like it and want something to happen to it so it’s appealing to them. Funny how they’ve never used it but think it’s being taken from them. The other animals that use the UMBC daily don’t seem to be hung up on history or visuals. They just need a place to be left alone and since the rest of the Blind Chanel has been completely humanized I think it’s critical that P4 happens with remediation of the foreshore around it.
If we are dreaming about what something was and think it should be again ( Squamish river central Chanel) then the Blind use to be the mouth of the Mamquam River so what should we do about that?