The note stated that camping was illegal.
Left on structures pieced together on the south side of the Stawamus River, it warned the site's builders that in a week the tarps, tents and 20-foot-tall teepee were to be removed.
It was getting to the point of getting to be a bit of a shanty town, said Charlie Harrison, president of the Squamish Access Society.
On Saturday (Oct. 13), the access society and Squamish Streamkeepers cleaned up illegal campsites along the river. A truck box full of junk was hauled to the landfill.
Squamish has a long history of transient recreation participants avoiding camping fees. In the summer, their bases can be found in local forests, Harrison said. This case seemed no different.
A climbing guide was found in a northern site, he noted, and residents close to the area recalled some of the campers being climbers from Quebec.
As Squamish's outdoor recreation activities increase in popularity, the issue of illegal camping will only do the same, Harrison said. There's a limited number of campsites in Squamish and even fewer within walking distance of outdoor recreation facilities, he noted.
Camping at Stawamus Chief Provincial Park costs $10 per person, rather than per site, Harrison said, adding that it's an expensive venture for someone who is staying in town for the entire summer.
Local authorities including the District of Squamish, B.C. Parks and the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations need to plan for the big picture, he said. The outdoor recreation destination of Bishop, Calif., dealt with this issue by creating The Pit campground. It's not fancy, Harrison said, but it's cheap. For a couple of bucks a night, you get a tent site and washroom facilities. At the very least, cheap camping can be managed, he noted.
If the district doesn't recognize it as an issue, it is just going to get worse, Harrison said.
Last week, district officials, bylaw enforcement officers, fire rescue members and planning staff, along with Bear Aware members, met to discuss the topic. The Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations and BC Parks are also involved in talks, but BC Parks could not attend last week's meeting, district spokesperson Christina Moore stated in an email.
The group discussed the need for additional campsites within Squamish, with proper infrastructure i.e. toilets, bear-proof garbage bins and storage lockers and the need for increased enforcement options, she wrote.
The municipality does enforce its land use bylaws when the property falls within its jurisdiction. For other areas, such as Crown land, district staff work with provincial agencies, Moore stated.
We would typically pursue voluntary compliance before resorting to legal remedies to remove campers, she wrote.
The province can issue trespassing notices and fines up to $1,000 to illegal campers, said Bob Cunneyworth, a Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations senior compliance and enforcement specialist.
The Resort Municipality of Whistler has enacted bylaws on Crown land within its boundaries, Cunneyworth said, noting that Squamish could follow suit. In doing so, municipal bylaw officers would be able to deal with such offences, he said, noting that it adds to the enforcement tools.
Certainly there are different ways to deal with this in Squamish, he said.
Illegal camping seems to be on the increase, said Meg Toom, Bear Aware co-ordinator. Garbage scattered around such areas often becomes a wildlife attractant, she said.
Being a Bear Smart community, we don't want to see potential for conflict, she said.
The discussion group will meet again to continue the dialogue and explore options, Moore said.
To report alleged illegal camping to the district call (604) 815-5067 or email [email protected]. One can also call the Report All Poachers and Polluters tip line at 1-877-952-7277 or *7277 via cellphone.
