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Garibaldi at Squamish

It is important that you let your local and provincial politicians know how you feel about this issue. The decision on whether the project moves ahead or not rests with the community of Squamish which is represented by our elected Mayor and Council.

Contact information:

Mayor Greg Gardner: ggardner@squamish.ca
Councillor Bryan Raiser braiser@squamish.ca
Councillor Corinne Lonsdale: clonsdale@squamish.ca
Councillor Doug Race: drace@squamish.ca
Councillor Patricia Heintzman: pheintzman@squamish.ca
Councillor Paul Lalli: plalli@squamish.ca
Councillor Rob Kirkham: rkirkham@squamish.ca

MLA Joan McIntyre: joan.mcintyre.mla@leg.bc.ca

GARIBALDI AT SQUAMISH (GAS)
Project Details:

  • 5,700 housing units (single family homes, townhomes, apartments)
  • 22,800 'bed units' (this means literally bedrooms with people staying in them and includes all permanent and vacation accomodation)
  • Covering an area of 4,900 hecatares which encompasses Cat Lake recreation area, Brohm Lake recreation area, and borders the heart of Garibaldi Park, a unique ecosystem that would be compromised by increased visitor traffic.
  • 25 ski lifts
  • 2 golf courses
  • 500,000 sq ft of commercial space (along the highway)
  • 98 km of new roads

The EAO website - has all the proponents development submissions, ministry and government comments (local and provincial), public comments/letters as well as EAO/developer correspondence available.

The Save Garibaldi website - is a very informative site on all impacts of this proposed development.
http://savegaribaldi.org/

Summary of Environmental Concerns:

BROHM CREEK
Water withdrawal for 22,800 bed units, snow making and golf course irrigation would come from Brohm River.
There is concern that the limited and fluctuating water flow would not be able to meet this demand and also supply enough volume to protect the highly productive and unique Steelhead fishery found there. The steelhead in Brohm River are a main contributor to the Cheakamus and Squamish fisheries. Climate change influence makes future flow predictions unreliable.
Link to 4 minute Global TV feature on Brohm River:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxVhvasxOis

COMPROMISE OF GARIBALDI PARK
Garibaldi Park is a class A provincial park. The area around Garibaldi Mountain was the original area that prompted the creation of the park to protect this amazingly rich and remote ecosystem. Ecological values can be severely compromised by increased visitor use and ski boundary encroachment in this unique and sensitive ecosystem.

WILDLIFE HABITAT FRAGMENTATION
Roads and development would fragment habitat for 17 blue and red at risk species identified in the project area. This includes Grizzly Bear and Mountain Goats that travel between Garibaldi Park and the project area.

SEWAGE DISPOSAL
Sewage disposal in Cheekye River of 2,200 cubic meters per day which would affect hormonal and phosphate load of Cheakamus River.

POLLUTION
Runoff from golf courses into Brohm and Cheakamus rivers.

URBAN SPRAWL
The project would result in an approximate doubling of our current population of 16,000 in an area 15 km north of the closest northern point of our current urban development. There would also be commercial development along the highway detracting from the current urban commercial centers in Squamish. This is against 'smart growth' policies outlined in our current Official Community Plan (OCP) which advocates for concentrated growth within the current urban centers.

CLIMATE CHANGE
White winters are no longer anticipated to be as reliable, glaciers in the area are receding. (Helm Creek Glacier in Garibaldi Park has receded 1 km since the early 1900's). Investment in new ski resort infrastructure in an area that is marginal for rain/snow patterns and has unpredictable and heavy snow fall carries risk in terms of snow pack and length of ski season.

The sprawling nature of the development with 98 km of roads, located 15km north of Squamish would contribute substantial carbon dioxide, greenhouse gas pollution, there are no plans for construction of community infrastructure such as schools, fire fighting or for bus service to the area. The area is also currently a 'carbon sink' with recently planted young trees storing carbon as they grow. Carbon would be released in clearing for development.

SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
Sustainability is the key feature of innovative community design worldwide. This concept includes zero ecological footprint in terms of environmental impact. Long term economic sustainability is also key; a self-perpetuating economy that does not rely on continuous real estate development to provide short term jobs.

In Squamish, sustainability could focus on the marketing and development of the low-environmental impact, world class quality, outdoor recreation sports such as biking, windsports, fishing, climbing and the unexpolited lakes rather than the low-quality ski hill and real estate development of the Brohm Ridge GAS project.

For more information on Brohm River ecosystem concerns:
Brohm River is a highly productive fish bearing river on this site which has a unique species of steelhead trout. To find out more please review the following:

  1. Letter from Living Rivers BC summarizes the significance of Brohm River to juvenile steelhead trout. It has three times the typical production of other coastal streams in this area.
  2. Independent report on the importance of Brohm River in supporting Squamish - Cheakamus fisheries (steelhead trout) and the curret risks associated with the GAS development proposal.
  3. The proponents submission of the water study conducted over the last year at Brohm River.

    4. We will keep you informed on this issue.