What happened at the music festival in Pemberton won’t happen here, if the District of Squamish has anything to say about it.
The mess and reported pollution of sensitive areas such as on the banks of Birkenhead River left in the wake of the Pemberton Music Festival in mid-July has left a bad taste in the mouths of many local people as tens of thousands of festival goers descend on Squamish for the 2015 Squamish Valley Music Festival this week.
The district, in collaboration with local agencies, has put a plan in place to protect Squamish’s environmentally sensitive areas during next weekend’s festival. There will be patrols of key areas, and entry to sensitive areas will be restricted with barricades, fencing and or signage, according to a news release from the district. Some areas will have checkpoints to restrict campers from entering while still allowing residents and businesses access.
Tourist traffic on certain roads in the immediate vicinity of the festival sites will also being implemented to minimize the human waste and garbage that has been found in previous years, according to district staff.
“The environmental task force, with full cooperation and input from the festival organizers, has developed a robust plan,” said Simon Gravel of the Conservation Officer Service. “The collaborative approach will go a long way to reduce the potential for human-wildlife conflicts as well as protect and conserve sensitive areas within the community.”
The plan comes out of the environmental task force created in the fall of 2014 to address several issues, including unauthorized camping by festival goers that resulted in damage to natural habitat and increased potential for human-wildlife conflict.
The task force is comprised of festival organizers, the District of Squamish, Squamish Nation, Conservation Officer Service, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ministry of Forests, WildSafe BC and Lands and Natural Resource Operations.
The group aims to protect Squamish area rivers, streams, the watershed, fish and wildlife, according to the news release.
“Our natural environment is of great significance to Squamish, and we must ensure its protection,” said Mayor Patricia Heintzman.
“These efforts are even more important this year with the pink salmon run that’s underway.”
To report any environmental concerns or wildlife sightings, contact the Conservation Officer Service at 1-877-952-7277 or the district at 604-892-5217. Additional information and a list of closures and restrictions can be found at Squamishfestival.com.
