A proposed new ski resort on the
The
Perhaps the greatest selling point is that it would cluster ski hill development on a busy, recently upgraded transportation corridor, and it would put a big mountain resort an hour closer to Vancouver than Whistler is. That means skiing closer to home for a lot of people, which would cut down on
More importantly, the development of a major new ski resort so close to Vancouver could only reduce the pressure for more development in more sensitive wilderness areas, like Jumbo Mountain in the Kootenays. It might also slow the growth of small Interior resorts, such as Big White and Silver Star in the Okanagan. These are developing so rapidly they are raising serious environmental concerns.
Big White, for example, wants to divert water which, given global warming, is more urgently needed in the Kettle River. And Silver Star, which every few years seems to take another bite of land out of Silver Star Provincial Park, is pumping an increasing amount of sewage into a drainage system that provides drinking water to thousands of residents in the valley below. Both those resorts recently got Ds on an environmental scorecard, while Whistler got an A, which shows bigger is sometimes better.
G@S has come under criticism because the resort would be built on grizzly habitat. It should be pointed out that the critics in Squamish are living on top of some of the best bear habitat in the province: the flats surrounding the Squamish River.
Mountain goats may be threatened by G@S, but anyone who has visited Jasper or Banff knows that if key habitat is protected, wildlife can thrive close to communities.
Perhaps the biggest environmental concern is the threat G@S poses to water quality. The resort would withdraw a huge amount of water from the Brohm River, while discharging treated sewage into the Cheekye River. Both are important salmon streams.
The Brohm is a uniquely rich stream because its source water flows off an extinct volcano, bringing with it an unusually high level of phosphorous. Fisheries biologists warn excessive water withdrawals from the Brohm will damage steelhead reproduction, and pollution could alter the delicate chemical balance of the stream. Sewage could also damage the Cheekye.
The proponents recognize those threats and Mike Esler, president of G@S, has stated: “Protecting water quality and fisheries are key management goals. …The Brohm, like other water courses in the region, is a significant natural resource and needs to be protected.”
The big fear, of course, is that environmental damage might not become apparent until too late. Or, if the resort prospers, that demands for more water, more land and the inevitable production of more sewage, will grow over time. See Big White and Silver Star.
To ensure that doesn’t happen, the master plan should have a growth limit and constant environmental monitoring should be done as the development takes place. At the same time a commitment is needed, from the provincial government, to funnel substantial amounts of money into environmental protection and enhancement.
G@S expects to generate over $480-million revenue in commercial and residential property taxes, sales and income taxes and property transfer taxes. The government should draw on that to establish
Done right, G@S could bring environmental benefits to the Squamish area – and more broadly it could help reduce growth in other parts of B.C., where new or expanded ski resorts can only do more damage.
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