The Garibaldi at Squamish project is a tentatively approved ski resort development plan located about 80km North of Vancouver, BC. Northland Properties and Aquilini Investment Group of Vancouver submitted a project proposal for the ski resort under the Environmental Assessment Act in 1997. In 2010, the BC Environmental Assessment Office released its report that stated that there was not enough information on the potential impacts for vegetation and wildlife in the area. As a response to recommendations in this report, Northland Properties and Aquilini Investment Group of Vancouver submitted a follow up document that tried to address these issues. The municipality of Whistler also has its concerns about this project, not only economic but also that there is not enough snow fall in this area. As a natural resources planner, I aim to evaluate these claims and submit my recommendations on priorities and how to move forward for Northland Properties and Aquilini Investment Group of Vancouver.

In order to accurately assess the claims and concerns of both the BC Environmental Office and the municipality of Whistler, I have obtained data on ungulate habitat, old growth forest habitat, rivers and streams, red-listed species, elevation, and roads of the proposed project area from the DataBC. I mapped the habitats and areas where these are found within the project boundary to assess how much area would have to be protected (Map 2). This also included the 555m snow line restriction proposed by the municipality of Whistler. Within the park boundary, 53.5% is made of up protected areas (6.8% old growth forest habitat; 7.9% ungulate habitat; 24.8% red-listed species habitat; 28.1% fisheries habitat). As well, 30% of the project area is found below the proposed 555m snowline.

The two greatest environmental concerns for the Garibaldi at Squamish ski resort project are the potential of a retreating snow line and the amount of protected area needed for fishery and stream protection. Already, 30% of the proposed project area has large concern for not having sufficient snow. With climate change and an average temperature increase, it is expected that in the future the amount of area that is considered in this category will increase. Despite Whistler’s out dated citation (1974) of the snowline, many reports have also addressed the uncertainty of future climate conditions (IPCC 2014; ClimateBC 2017). Although snow making machines could be used, if the temperature is not low enough at these elevations, there is not much to be done to keep the lower areas snow covered. This should be at the top of the list of concerns for Aquilini Investment Group of Vancouver. As well, fish habitat and streams fall into 28.1% of the proposed area. Due to limitations on development in this area, this could quite significantly affect ski run creation. However, forested areas that are left around these areas could be used to provided a buffer of protection for the populations that are present in the streams. As well, allowing skiing in the wintertime within these forested areas could provide low-impact recreation within these buffered forests.

In my opinion, with the total area that needs to be conserved larger than 50% of the projected area, there are two potential options. 1) To increase the size of the amount of developable land for ski runs, the project boundary could be increased. Although there will still be more protected areas included in this increase in area, more ski runs could be available as well. 2) To retract the proposal. With 53.5% of the project locked up in protected areas, the uncertainty of climate in the future and a potential decrease of snow available, the future success of the resort is uncertain.