The rushing waters provide a restful background on this easy hiking trail. The Stawamus River Dike Trail is 2.6 km long and starts near the kiosk at Westway Avenue and Plateau Drive.
It meanders southwest to Valley Drive, east of Chances casino.
The dike was built in 1970s to protect new residential areas in Valleycliffe. The 2015/16 upgrades made the trail even smoother.
The Stawamus River runs strong year round and even stronger during freshet and heavy rainfalls.
For real-time water levels, check the federal website; wateroffice.gc.ca.
The dike has contained the river, which is still ambulatory and has not stabilized.
The placement of heavy boulder rip-rap, to prevent seepage through the dike near the west end of Valley Drive, was done earlier this year.
Ongoing repairs to the dikes are a fact of life in our flood-prone community with over $1 million allocated to this necessary task each year.
This figure will be rising with the real threat of a rising sea level. The community is responsible for the safety of its citizens and our Integrated Flood Hazard Management Plan (IFHMP) is being updated to meet the new threats.
Timber harvesting from 1900 into the 1950s logged directly to the edge of all local rivers, creeks, and streams, contrary to the modern practice of protecting the riparian zone 30 metres each side of the watercourse.
The old practice led to erosion silting up watercourses and barrages of fallen logs rerouting channels.
The severe impact on spawning and juvenile rearing areas led to restoration efforts starting in the 1980s.
The confluence area of Little Stawamus Creek and Magnolia Creek with the Stawamus River has been left un-diked to allow for safe passage of returning salmon.
New culverts and watercourse fortifications were also added in the area from Mcnaughton Park southward. Salmon and trout are slowly returning to this previously safe juvenile rearing area.
Squamish Streamkeepers have stated that the beaver dam near the Ian Barbour Bridge over Magnolia Creek does not pose an obstacle to returning fish because there is open passage around the beaver dam.
This is a Sensitive Habitat Area (SHA) and people are urged to keep pets and children out of the watercourses.
One of the main community drinking water intakes is located about 5 km from the river mouth, above the bridge over the Stawamaus River opposite John Henry Park in Valleycliffe.
The small dam at this location is an impassible barrier for fish and will continue in place as a backup to our primary water source at the lava fields above the power dam on the Mamquam River.
Rip-rap is large stone used to form the base and to strengthen the foundation of a dike.
It is mainly in the form of large, sharp-edged boulders that will protect against erosion.
There is an unlimited supply of this material locally.
One interesting historical fact about the Stawamus Valley is the 1859 proposal to build a railway from North Vancouver up Indian Arm and down the Stawamus River to supply the gold rush.
Walter Moberly (1832-1915) was a Vancouver businessman who promoted this plan up until 1909. Various roads, parks and a school in Vancouver are named after him.
Could this be a future highway route to get busy city dwellers into their wilderness playgrounds and a necessary bypass for the expanding town of Squamish?
FAST FACTS: Stawamus River trail
Origin of name: Stawamus River takes its name from the permanent, at least a few thousand years old, Squamish Nation village in the lee of The Chief.
Pronounced ‘stah wah muss,’ it means birthplace of the winds, whereas Squamish means ‘strong wind.’
Trailhead: Kiosk near the junction of Westway Avenue and Plateau Drive in Valleycliffe.
Use: hiking, biking.
Difficulty: green
Elevation: Three to 52 metres.
Etiquette: It is a good habit to travel on the right side, as this gives opposing traffic and overtaking traffic room to pass.
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