There is a lot of misunderstanding swirling around the kiteboarding community’s push to maintain Squamish’s access to a world-class windsport destination at the Spit.
While some people may debate the concept of removing a kilometre of the Squamish Spit’s southern tip, the kiting community does not. We support the project’s objective to open up the estuary to the Squamish River. The idea is that by doing so, salmon fry may reach the safe haven of the estuary before being shot out into the ocean — upping their survival rate.
Our conversation sits beyond this. It involves potential realignment options discussed by officials. We seek to encourage the government to pick the one that closest maintains water access for the broader community.
No matter what design officials select, the kiteboard community will have to fundraise to create viable, safe access for Squamish and the thousands of visitors that enjoy the area. We don’t shun away from this responsibility. Annually the Squamish Watersports Society (SWS) spends approximately $70,000 on maintaining safe, public access for all. The society pays and manages public toilets, maintains jet skis and hires staff to ensure the estuary is protected from wayward sailors.
The society monitors foot traffic at the Spit and trains staff to manage emergencies, while equipping them with the tools to communicate with first responders such as the Canadian Coast Guard.
We are asking the government to meet us in the middle. Unfortunately, timing and grant restrictions seem to have pushed many alternatives, such as a footbridge or more culverts, off the table.
What possibly remains is a narrow scope - removing one-kilometre of dike and leaving a small island or, potentially, placing a berm at the north side of the Squamish Terminals to protect its operations and the future possibility of connecting that berm to the remaining island.
With both these options the community is left to deal with a mountain of hurdles, such as fortifying the island and allowing for smooth emergency services. However, the latter possibility — with the berm — places Squamish one step closer to inclusive access.
Rebuilding access for the two plans will cost several millions of dollars. This would essentially kill Squamish as a world-class windsports destination. While the berm idea has a lot of flaws, it’s possibly an option that could bring the fundraising figure for access down to a manageable goal.
Rebecca Aldous
Squamish kiter
