Environmental Task Force safeguards sensitive areas during 2015 Squamish Valley Music Festival

An environmental task force has identified the most vulnerable environmental areas within the vicinity of the Squamish Valley Music Festival and is ready to protect these areas from the influx when the festival kicks off next week. The plan is ready for implementation, as festival goers get set to arrive Thursday.

The task force was created in fall 2014 to address issues of unauthorized camping by festival goers that resulted in additional human and vehicular traffic and waste, damage to our natural habitat, and increased potential for human-wildlife conflict. The group teamed up to further safeguard the protection of Squamish rivers, streams, watersheds, fish and wildlife from wayward campers. The task force is comprised of festival organizers, the District of Squamish, Squamish Nation, Conservation Officer Service, Fisheries & Oceans Canada, Ministry of Forests, Lands & Natural Resource Operations, and WildSafeBC.

“This highly collaborative effort maximizes our collective resources to offer better protection to these important areas in our community,” says District of Squamish Mayor Patricia Heintzman. “These efforts are even more important this year with the pink salmon run that’s underway. Our natural environment is of great significance to Squamish and we must ensure its protection.”

Agencies will be implementing patrols of key areas, and entry to sensitive areas will be restricted with barricades, fencing and/or signage. Certain areas will have screening checkpoints to restrict campers while still allowing recreationalists, residents and businesses to access the areas.

Restriction to non-local traffic on certain roads in the immediate vicinity of the festival sites is also being implemented to minimize the impacts from human waste and garbage that has been noted in previous years.

“The environmental task force, with full cooperation and input from the festival organizers, has developed a robust plan,” says C.O. Simon Gravel, 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.”

“We are committed to being good stewards of the environment and highlight this to festival goers at every turn,” says Paul Runnals, the festival’s Executive Producer. “Our ‘Keep Squamish Beautiful’ campaign builds on the actions of the task force, and reinforces the importance of being respectful guests in the community, especially recognizing the potential for impact from such a large influx of people.”

Community residents are invited to be extra eyes and ears on the ground. To report any environmental concerns or wildlife sightings, please contact the Conservation Officer Service 24 hours a day at 1-877-952-7277 or the District of Squamish at 604-892-5217. Additional information and a list of closures and restrictions can be found at Squamishfestival.com or Squamish.ca

July 31, 2015