Squamish is losing access to the Spit. It doesn’t have to be this way!
Lost Opportunities and Lost Access Squamish mother of the wind, Squamish hardwired for adventure. These phrases are used to describe Squamish yet our community is about to lose access to one of the areas that is the epitome of these phrases, the Squamish Spit.
In May of 2018 West Vancouver - Sunshine Coast - Sea to Sky Country MP Pamela Goldsmith-Jones stood on the southern tip of the Squamish Spit, for a big announcement - The federal government is contributing $1.5 million towards the Central Estuary Restoration Project for improving salmon habitat around the Squamish Spit.
Through a Freedom of Information request, the Squamish Windsports Society (SWS) has learned another of the proposed outcomes was to study, plan and build a structure that “will serve both as a berm to deflect sediment from accumulating along the Squamish Terminals west berth as well as a road access for wind sport and recreation enthusiasts”. This aligns with what the SWS has been told in numerous meetings over the last 3 years.
Fast forward to February 17, 2021, when the SWS found out through back channels and subsequently confirmed the Squamish River Watershed Society (SRWS) and Department of Fisheries (DFO), intend to remove 1 kilometer of the Squamish Spit Road. Cutting off all access to the Squamish Spit before the end of the 2021 calendar year without building the alternative road access that was outlined in their project description.
The SWS is outraged by the plan to go ahead with this project in this limited format. The original project plan, as well as the discussions we have had with the District of Squamish (DOS), the SRWS and the other various stakeholders, led us to believe we were working together for a common goal that improved chinook salmon stocks and also included access for all recreation users, windsport enthusiasts, and tourists that utilize the Spit every single day of the year.
What’s the rush? The SRWS is rushing to spend the funds that have been allocated to them before the end of the year. Spending public funds to remove public access fails to realize the long-term vision as it was outlined in their project description, resulting in a rushed project that has a massive negative impact on recreation users, jeopardizing their safety and impacting the local economy.
Public funds without public oversight? The funding for the Central Estuary Restoration Project, provided by the DFO to the SRWS, had objectives and measurable goals which have not clearly been satisfied. Public funds are continuing to be approved by individuals at the DFO despite key criteria not being clearly met. Knowing that a major portion of the project description has been ignored, the removal planned should not go ahead at this time.
How did we get here? Over the past several years, the SWS has been proactively working alongside the SRWS. We believe that improving the chinook salmon fish stocks is critical to the entire ocean ecosystem. We believe realigning the Spit so access is from 3rd Ave, is a true win-win-win goal. It came as a huge surprise to hear that the SRWS has no intention of realigning the Spit road, as they have commonly touted in public and amongst stakeholders and instead will be only removing the Spit road.
To be clear: The Squamish Windsports Society does not approve or support the removal of a section of the Spit Road, that would leave an island accessible only by the privileged few who own boats.
The SWS does not see a way that it will be able to provide the services of safety for Windsport users should land access be cut off. We are financially dependant on the members accessing the Spit and will likely be forced to close the society if the members weren’t able to access it by land.
The SWS does support and will continue to work towards true realignment of the Spit with road access from 3rd Ave. An interim option leaving only an island has never been considered a suitable option for recreational users. The Central Estuary Restoration Project’s plan outlined a single project where the material removed would be used for the realignment.
It is also important to note that the SRWS has not had, to our knowledge, any meaningful engagement with other recreational user groups that have an interest in this area. Paddleboarders, Kayakers, Canoeists, bird watchers, walkers, joggers, nature enthusiasts and tourists have all been ignored from any consultation, and the SWS has clearly pointed out multiple times that these user groups will also be negatively impacted by the removal of the Spit Road.
Squamish, the outdoor recreation capital of Canada, has an opportunity to work together to create a community that respects the fish and other animals that live in these waters as well as all the people that recreate on, in and near them.
What do we do next? • Sign the new petition and share on social media - Please DON'T donate through this platform any funds collected here go to support the Change.org mission not the #SavetheSpit mission • Stay tuned for an update next week. We will preparing emails and phone scripts so you can call and email the decision makers to let them know your thoughts • Start using #SavetheSpit on social media to raise awareness across all user groups about this update • Send us a short video clip (under a minute, PG-friendly) with what the Spit means to you. We will be preparing a video to put out to the public
Thanks Chris Glazier for the graphic of the proposed 3rd Ave extension.
I got a hold of the Squamish River Watershed Society proposal from Nikki at SWS, and in response to the comment by pmax that there won't be funds for the 3rd Ave extension, I interpreted that a large proportion of the funds were for the extension... so it seems to me that public funds were granted for a project with a major component (most of budget?) being the spit realignment (aka 3rd ave extension), and so either the decision should be revisited by government if the spit realignment is being removed from the project, or the funds that were allocated for spit realignment withheld, or both. I'm all for salmon, even above the spit, but it does seem crazy to me - again from what I gather - that the project could change so dramatically.
Has anyone from SWS discerned the terminals position on the new plans? Does this not jeopardize their deep water port?
If I put my ‘save the fishes’ hat on, I think change will be very hard after the moment that they take out the spit IF they don’t realign the spit / provide access from 3rd at that time as there would be no environmental benefit for change at that point. the save the fishes (and birds???) movement(a) become true opponent to wind sports at that time. The removal will be a negative event from a sediment perspective , so all the change should happen at the same time if anyone truly loves the fishes and birds.
Im happy to help with the strategy and communication Chris.
Ceejay- Nikki is absolutely on it! Make yourself available here and look for more communications coming. I think it’s a huge year for everyone to get their SWS membership so we can be as organized as possible.
cglazier wrote:I believe this was the proposed new access to the spit from 3rd Ave..
That proposal makes a lot of sense. The amount of dyke needed to bridge that distance is exactly the amount that would be removed changing to that path. I'm not sure the corner would be able to stand the force of the river wearing on it day in day out though. I can see the port not being too jazzed about people driving all over their train tracks too.
It looks like it would have a far greater beneficial effect for the salmon than just removing that section too, it would push a lot more water in to the estuary. Downside might be flood risk though.
It might need a section left open and a short bridge built over top to alleviate flood risk and erosion issues:
Harbour Air looking to include Squamish in its circuithttps: https://www.piquenewsmagazine.com/whist ... it-2619325 I think this is the case... They might use fidhes and birds case to clean water area from kitesurfers for float planes...