Editor’s note: This letter was sent to MLA Jordan Sturdy and the minister responsible for BC Parks, as well as The Squamish Chief.
I arrived at Murin Lake on Highway 99 around 9:20 a.m. and proceeded to the east side of the lake (the less busy area) to find an area to swim. Upon arrival, I found the lakeshore was completely trashed with garbage. Dirty baby diapers, fishing line with hooks (still in the water), cigarette butts, empty cans of beer, to name only a few. Yes, I picked it up as I luckily happened to have a dog poo bag in my pocket.
As a resident of Squamish, I am growing more and more concerned with the amount of people using these lakes (Brohm included) and the over-population resulting in the lack of care for these precious resources. On a daily basis (most notably the weekend), cars are parked lined up on Highway 99 and they are not being towed. People are not respecting these areas – they are way too full and they are not following the rules.
Firstly, a park person should have seen this mess and picked it up. However, I don’t hold that person completely responsible. It should not be the responsibility of a parks person to be a garbage collector. This is a reactive role. Instead, the parks person should be spending his/her day approaching users and reminding them to pick up after themselves. And for those who do not – they should be slapped with a massive fine. Similarly, those who line the highway, parking to go to these lakes should be towed and also slapped with a massive fine.
Parks must take a far more proactive role in regulating how these lakes are being used. This corridor has gotten busier in the last several years and will continue to do so. What is the solution to insure that those who are using the lakes are not piling on top of each other, abusing the environment and putting others at risk?
