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SQUAMISH’S
PREMIER MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAIL |
The Squamish Off Road Cycling Association (SORCA), has recently
been informed that there are plans to log one of North America’s premier
mountain bike trails – the Power House Plunge.
Why is this trail so important?
The Powerhouse Plunge is one of the premiere trails in Squamish’s mountain
bike network, and was recently rated by Men’s Journal as the 3rd best
in North America. The legacy of Squamish's trail network is fulfilled through
the efforts of many local individuals who put in countless hours building fun,
scenic and sustainable trails like the Plunge.
Recreational runners, mountain bikers, and hikers alike enjoy the Plunge, year
round for its lush forest scenery. This would be gone if it were logged. People
do not come to Squamish to ride through cut blocks. It is the fun, well maintained
trails in a forest setting that brings people to Squamish to ride, run, or hike.
The Plunge is also a key component in several mountain bike and trail running
races, including the Test
Of Metal . This is one of North America’s most popular mountain bike
races – a race that recently sold out all of its 800 spots in only five
days. The Test of Metal has become such an important part contributor to Squamish’s
economy and the local recreational community that the District of Squamish is
considering a proposal to make the Test of Metal course, of which the Plunge
is central, a permanent fixture.
Save the Plunge
According to SORCA’s research, the Ministry of Forest’s
plans for the area include two road crossings which SORCA estimates will eliminate
approximately 25% of the trail. Also, only a 20m buffer will remain on each
side of a trail that provides a unique opportunity to experience being deep
in the forest.
There is a potential for the both short and long term impacts on the trail,
as the Plunge could be closed to logging due to activity for weeks and maybe
months on end. This would not include the time needed to repair trail damage
posed by logging activity. Depending on the time of year this could displace
numerous recreational users, and potentially have a serious financial impact
on Squamish, as these recreationalists head elsewhere.
One must not forget that the proposed cut areas are also directly above the
newest groundwater supply for the District of Squamish. This supply is set to
become the primary water source for the growing needs of Squamish. The question
remains on what impact such a cut will have on this supply?
Non Negotiable
The SORCA executive was shocked when informed of the plans to log the Plunge.
SORCA has had always maintained strong working relationship with Forestry and
other land managers, both public and private. Members have met with Forestry
as recently as late January 2005 to discuss upcoming logging plans in the area.
The Plunge itself was built in coordination and partially funded by the Ministry
of Forests.
The SORCA executive has met with Lands and Water BC (the Provincial Government
agency that owns the land) in the summer of 2004 to discuss and demonstrate
the importance of the backcountry in and around Squamish, as a recreational
resource. SORCA was informed that “this area was very unlikely to see
any logging in the future.” We are shocked to find out that a trail as
important as the Plunge could be on the block without serious consultation with
SORCA.
Recently SORCA executive members contacted the local Squamish Forestry Office
and were informed that the decision to establish cut blocks in and around the
Plunge, was not made locally in Squamish, but rather at the head office in Chilliwack.
The Chilliwack Office was subsequently contacted by members of the SORCA executive
to voice their objection to the proposed logging. The executive made suggestions
that areas further into the backcountry be considered for logging operations.
The Chilliwack office responded that “decent timber is so rare in this
area now that, to meet their quota, they had to cut this block even though it
is a relatively small cut block.”
The SORCA executive was left out of early meetings among the decision-makers
(ie Ministry of Forrests and Lands and Waters BC). After some pressure we were
finally invited to the table, and will be attending upcoming meetings to further
discuss this issue.
More plunging. Put fingers to keys and let the powers that be know what you think about this.
Economics
SORCA research suggests that the proposed cut has a value of approximately $2
million. Once this block is cut, it can’t be harvested for another 50
years, translating into an annual return of approximately $40,000.
SORCA has never formally calculated the economic impact of an individual trail,
however, it estimates that as Squamish’ signature trail, the Plunge could
easily generate over a million dollars a year to the Squamish economy. The Plunge
is a key component of the Test of Metal Race which attracts thousands of riders
and other recreationalists from all over world on a year round basis.
The economics of pushing the logging interests of BC Timber Sales simply does
not equate to the economic benefit that this trail brings to the community of
Squamish. Cyclists come form all over the world to use this and other trails
in Squamish. They stay in our hotels, eat in our restaurants, shop in Squamish
stores. We feel the benefit of preserving this trail for the benefit of the
recreational community far outweighs the economic payback of logging this trail.
From SORCA’s perspective, the proposed cut will likely have little impact
on Squamish’s economy. The best this cut will likely provide to Squamish
is eight to ten jobs for a few months and possibly $500,000 ($10,000 on an annualized
basis) of profit for a local contractor, if a local contractor is indeed chosen
to complete the contract.
Not Anti-Logging
SORCA wants to clearly indicate that this is not an anti-logging campaign. We
have always had a good working relationship with the forestry sector. We understand
that people have to make a living, and many persons both recreationalists, and
non-recreationalists make their living in the forestry sector.
In the past five years Squamish has lost several trails to logging. SORCA has
made it a policy to work with Forestry and local contractors to re-establish
trails in and around various cut blocks. We have also have gone out of our way
to try to inform riders about the areas being logged, time frames associated
to the work, and have informed recreationalists to keep out of worksites. This
information has been passed on at various events and through the SORCA website.
In the past SORCA has been involved as a key stakeholder, representing the key
interests of the recreational community. SORCA has worked symbiotically with
Forestry to ensure that the interests of both groups has been met, but with
this latest proposal, to log the Plunge area, SORCA, was not involved in any
decision making, or allowed to convey any feedback.
Basis Mismanagement
It is SORCA’s opinion that thousands of recreation users of today are
being penalized by the mismanagement of our forests in the past. Are recreational
users and the community of Squamish expected to pay the price for a decision
that will profit only a handful of people and alter the landscape for a long
time?
Future Use of Crown Land
Due to the importance of the Powerhouse Plunge to both mountain bikers, hikers
and trail-runners, SORCA is mounting a campaign to stop this proposed cut. We
are calling this campaign “Save the Plunge” (STP) and are urging
all recreationalists to contact the various parties involved including: Mr.
Jerry Kennah at the BC Timber Sales Office in Chilliwack, Mr.Michael de Jong,
current Minister for Forests, Ms. Diane Reed, Manager of the Squamish Forest
District Office, and please c.c.Mayor Ian Sutherland of the District of Squamish.
The contacts for these individuals are listed below. Please refer to www.sorca.ca,
the official SORCA website, for updated information.
SORCA has plans to contact all of the respective parties involved, calling for
a moratorium on logging, disposition of Crown Land, or other developments in
the Squamish area on Crown Land where recreation assets like the Plunge are
located. This moratorium would remain until a strategic master land use plan
can be developed to effectively integrate the many recreation uses in the area
where current and future logging activities may exist.
SORCA has recently engaged Cascade Environmental to develop a master land use
plan for mountain biking in the Squamish area. According to SORCA President
Cliff Miller, “the time has to come for the Province to truly recognize
that the backcountry around Squamish is highly valuable as recreation land.
This is already or will soon become the most heavily recreated area in BC given
its close proximity to Vancouver and Whistler.”
SORCA believes certain areas (not all) are more valuable for public recreation
than logging or other development. We also believe in Squamish’s branding
as the “Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada“, and we reside in
a Province that is working very hard to promote itself as a tourist destination.
The time has come for the ”powers to be” to develop a land use strategy
for the backcountry that ensures the best long-term return to the taxpayers
of the BC, not just a quick buck to make the short-term balance sheet look good.
Plan of Action
SORCA has contacted the respected parties in order to be part of the current
discussions on the future of the Plunge. We have begun a letter writing campaign
to those parties involved to express our concerns.
We are also organizing the STP (Save the Plunge) Mountainbike Race on Saturday,
May 7 starting at 11 am. The race will coincide with the opening Squamish’s
new Adventure Centre, which will attended by various government officials, including
Premiere Gordon Campbell. Come out and ride some of Squamish’s trails,
in particular the Powerhouse Plunge. Logon to www.sorca.ca for further information.
We ask that you support us in our efforts to save this resource by forwarding
your concerns about logging the Powerhouse Plunge and other great Squamish trails
to:
Honourable Michael de Jong,
Minister of Forests
Room 128
Parliament Buildings
Victoria BC
V8V1X4
Phone: 250 387-6240
Fax: 250 387-1040
E-mail: Mike.deJong.MLA@leg.bc.ca
Mr. Jerry Kennah
BC Timber Sales
Timber Sales Manager
46360 Airport Road
Chilliwack BC V2P1A5
Phone:604 702-5727
Fax: 604 702-5711
E-mail: Jerry.Kennah@gems4.gov.bc.ca
Ms.Diane Reed,
Squamish Forest District Manager
Suite 101
42000 Loggers Lane
Squamish, BC V0N3G0
Phone: 604 898-2100
Fax: 604 898-2191
E-mail: Diane.Reed@gems1.gov.bc.ca
Mayor Ian Sutherland,
District of Squamish
Box 310,
Squamish, BC V0N 3G0
Phone: 1-877-892-5217
Fax: (604) 892-1083
E-mail: isutherland@squamish.ca
