Garibaldi at Squamish (GAS) is again being criticized, this time for its potential destructive impact on the fish living off the water builders have proposed pumping to sustain the 22,000 bed units and snowmaking it will require.Environmentalists are pointing to a recent study of the four-season resort proposed for Brohm Ridge to state that the project's potential use of water will drain Brohm River to a crisis point for steelhead and salmon."You have to appreciate how this one river connects to the entire watershed," said Craig Wightman, senior fish biologist for Living Rivers - Georgia Basin/Vancouver Island. "There's just too much at stake here to allow for such a development without due consideration of this sensitive eco-system." But project environmental experts are disputing the report, saying its study is based on outdated data. And project president Mike Esler said a upcoming report by their own environmental experts will show how hydrology issues will be addressed."Some of the environmental groups are getting everybody in a lather over something that we can resolve," he said.An August 2008 report prepared by Pat Slaney Aquatic Science Ltd, for the BC Conservation Foundation (BCCF), Habitat Conservation Trust Fund (HCTF) and Living Rivers cites the Brohm River as a productive "at-risk" salmonid habitat system. Esler condemned a story in the Vancouver Sun that exposed the damaging report last week and quoted Jack Cooley of the Squamish Streamkeepers as saying the project is a "real-estate grab." The story included a brief quote from Esler stating the report was "pure speculation." "It was a drive-by smear by that paper, they gave us like an hour notice for a 55-page report," he said. "Fisheries are extremely important to us. And the Squamish Nation will be an integral part of this development. It's of the utmost importance to have their support. So we're not doing anything to upset the Squamish Nation of the general public." Slaney's report states the ski area footprints and associated developments encompass a substantial portion of the Brohm River watershed and has the capability to significantly alter the productivity and fish populations of the river.It goes on to suggest there is significant risk of excessive nitrogen runoff from the resort development, as runoff from residences and golf courses could shift the aquatic insect community in the Brohm River, potentially impairing salmonid production over time unless carefully planned and executed control measures are put in place.It also states the 1,600,000 annual cubic metres of water proponents have estimated needing is far less than they will actually require, based on usage in Whistler.However GAS environmental expert Glenn Stewart said Slaney estimated GAS's size at half Whistler's when in fact it's more like a third its size. Esler pointed to the District of Squamish's average water usage per person per day to show that worst case usage would be four per cent of the flow, adding that's based on no conservation measures, but the project will involve significant conservation measures. Urban Systems engineering firm will provide a technical report as will co-project manager Glenn Stewart of Enkon Environmental Limited, said Esler."All this is part of the licensing application with the provincial government. They're not going to let you take 45 or 50 per cent of the flow [as Slaney's report suggests]."Stewart said the report is also faulty because it's based on April 2003 data by GAS's Urban Systems engineering, which was withdrawing water all through the year. "We have now determined based on some additional modeling that we've done that we probably and likely will not be withdrawing any water from the low summer flow period," said Stewart. GAS experts have the water data now and is in the process of producing a technical model for usage. It includes a proposal to draw from ground water in the event Brohm River's usage is insufficient.A report on the modeling will be available to the public before a 30-day public comment period, expected to open in late November or early December.Stewart said the project's environmental experts are working with Slaney to work out offsetting measures suggested in his report, which includes at least two riparian reserve designations, as land for fish and wildlife habitat protection purposes.He added that GAS is hoping to help local efforts to enhance the lower river, including fish habitat restoration and reconnecting some old flood plain channels.
