By Pslaney Aquatic Science Ltd.
"The proposed ski area and resort footprints encompass a substantial portion of Brohm River watershed and therefore the development has the potential to alter the hydrology/stream flows, geomorphology, water quality and trophic productivity of the Brohm River system, historically a regionally significant steelhead and salmon nursery stream for the Cheakamus River"
At significant risk from the Brohm resort development are excessive water
withdrawals during peak seasonal daily use in late-winter and particularly
during mid- to late-summer. Significant river flow withdrawal for the
Garibaldi at Squamish project would result in deficient steelhead rearing
and spawning flows as development of the resort phases upwards.
Assuming a peak daily water withdrawal of 2-3 times the average annual
withdrawal, and insufficient storage in reservoirs and no external water
source, mid- to late-summer flows of Brohm River could be reduced 22-
34% to 42-62% (the former based on adopting water conservation similar
to that of Sun Peaks resort near Kamloops). Under conditions of a global
warming trend, minimum-flow risks are exacerbated. Storage of excess
water in five small steep-terrain reservoirs (including two for potable water)
for withdrawal during these low flow periods is planned and would reduce,
but not eliminate seasonal risks to fish habitat. More recently, project
developers are considering the potential for water supplementation from
Cheakamus River groundwater (G. Stewart, Enkon Environmental, per
comm., July 15, 2008). Selection of pumped external water source would
be a best-management-decision for both the Brohm fish resource and the
proposed resort, as results-based monitoring could only detect a post-
impact water-supply crisis.
A second significant risk is excessive eutrophication of an extraordinary
phosphorus-rich river system that is currently productive and nitrogen
limited. Unless moderated, nitrogen run-off from fertilized residential lands
and golf courses, as well as from erosion of disturbed volcanic-enriched
soils, has the potential to over-enrich Brohm River, potentially degrading
salmonid habitats as organic matter accumulates over time. Proposed
use of treated liquid waste as fertilizer for golf courses or other land sites
would elevate this risk substantially. Currently, periphyton and grazing
benthic insects are in healthy equilibrium, sustaining a diverse community,
which is very highly dominated by mayflies, stoneflies and caddis flies at
base of the salmonid food chain.
There is also broad-scale risk from hillslope land clearing, road
construction, and multiple stream/gulley crossings, resulting in significant
transport of fine sediments and other road-source pollutants, unless
systematically and intensively managed using “low impact development”
The development was projected to extend over 15
to 25 years for completion, and utilize 17.5 km of existing logging roads plus
construct 17.9 km of new mountain roads (Figure 2, 3). ***thats a lot of time for things to go wrong for the river in my opinion*****
The development was estimated to result in an average production of 2,200 m3 of
sewage per day (to a maximum of 5,060 m3•sec-1). As of 2007, the preferred
option is to pipe treated sewage (treatment type not specified) to the Cheekye
River, with partial disposal on Brohm lands for irrigation of two golf courses
during the vegetative growing season (Figure 3) (G.Stewart, Enkon
Environmental, per comm. 2008). A second more costly option is to pipe the
sewage to an upgraded Mamquam River Wastewater Treatment Plant, which
discharges into the lower Squamish River.
As a result of past highway encroachments of the river channel
and a lengthy logging land-use history, a more up-to-date fish habitat
assessment is needed, as there may be potential risks of further salmonid habitat
impacts associated with reactivation of land-use activities involving renewed road
construction and logging, stream crossings, land-clearing and excavation, water
withdrawals and disposal of storm and waste water.
Garibaldi Resorts proposed a total water use of 1,600,000 m3 per year to
accommodate domestic and commercial uses, snow making and golf course
irrigation. As divided by 365 days per year, 24 hours per day, 60 minutes per
hour and 60 seconds per minute, this equates to an average annual flow
withdrawal of 0.051 m3•sec-1 (1.8 cfs). Another estimate of Brohm water use by
the project proponent is 491,260 gallons per day (or 0.027 m3•sec-1), which
appears to be the portion required for potable water for both domestic and commercial uses.
I'm sure that 491,260 gallons of water per day being drawn out of the river will be quite good for the fish in the stream especially in the summer if the flow gets to low is the resort going to shut down??????
Option 1: 22-34 % of upper Brohm River flows of 0.36-0.39 m3•sec-1 in mid
summer to early fall, and 8-13 % of an estimated Brohm minimum flow of
1 m3•sec-1 during late-winter to early-spring (February to April);
• Option 2: 35 to 52 % of upper Brohm River flows of 0.36-0.39 m3•sec-1 in
mid summer to early fall, and 13-20 % of an estimated Brohm minimum
flow of 1 m3•sec-1 during late-winter to early-spring (February to April);
• Option 3: 42 to 62 % of upper Brohm River flows of 0.36-0.39 m3•sec-1 in
mid summer to early fall, and 16-23 % of an estimated Brohm minimum
flow of 1 m3•sec-1 during late-winter to early-spring (February to April).
Accordingly, for all three options it is unlikely that the fishery flow target, as 30 %
of mean annual flow (MAF), could be met as proposed, unless proposed storage
in several headwater reservoirs are large-scale and/or an alternative pumped
water source is used to top up the primary reservoirs. As Brohm River’s
headwater streams are exceptionally steep, such constructed reservoirs are apt
to support only limited storage. Accordingly, this suggests that a sizeable portion
of the required water for residences and golf courses would need to be pumped
from a larger quality source, the nearby Cheakamus River or its floodplain
groundwater. An external alternative water source would ensure the
sustainability of the regionally significant steelhead and salmon resource of the
Brohm River, and ensure that a water demand-fish flow crisis does not develop
over time as the resort ramps up to full-scale.
This is unusual for coastal streams which are
either P-limited with undetectable ortho-P or if lake-headed both inorganic P- and
N-limited, with concentrations at or very near detection limits (Ashley and Slaney
1997). The 1995 sample had dissolved inorganic P and N concentrations similar
to the productive volcanics-based Blackwater and upper Dean rivers in the BC
Interior, in sharp contrast to that of any south coastal stream in British Columbia
which are typically infertile/oligotrophic. In the Squamish system alone which is
more greatly influenced by volcanic geology than elsewhere on the South Coast,
dissolved inorganic P concentration in Brohm were 2-to 8-fold higher than other
streams/rivers (McCusker et al. 2002).
A small amount of nitrogen leachate, increasing N-concentration by 2-3 fold from
the resort development may actually reduce the percentage of blue-green algae
in favour of greens and diatoms which would be grazed readily by an abundant
insect grazer community. However, a greater introduction of nitrogen from
nitrogen-rich fertilization and/or treated-waste fertilization of golf courses and/or
residential areas would generate unacceptably high algal biomasses, similar to
that documented in an experimental enrichment of the N-limited Sheep Creek in
the Salmo watershed in summer of 2005 (field observations by the author in
2005, and S. Decker per comm. 2006). As another example, Lohman (1991)
conducted experimental N-enrichments of an N-limited southern US stream and
measured several-fold increases in algal biomass. Similarly, unacceptably high
BROHM RIVER: A PRODUCTIVE AT-RISK SALMONID SYSTEM p. 13
algal biomasses would likely occur in the phosphorus-rich Cheekye River unless
treatment of liquid waste removed much of the nutrients, particularly nitrogen.
Thus, potentially excessive N-enrichments of Brohm River (and Cheekye River)
need to be re-examined by Enkon Environmental as part of the proposed resort’s
environmental impact assessment.
Historically, habitat impairments have degraded habitat conditions, yet there is a
recovery trend from past logging-related storm impacts. However, highway
encroachment has occurred over such a high proportion of the length of the
Brohm River, that it continues to significantly confine the channel, reducing
useable juvenile salmonid rearing habitat and spawning gravel retention(Appendix 1C-I).
There may be further risks of debris flows from old logging road crossings of
steep drainages which are proposed for ski hill access and/or resort residences.
In addition, a significant storm debris-flow has traveled down the east main
tributary (river entry at km 2.35 km in the canyon) (Figure 9a). Fortunately, it did
not overly degrade the lower-most productive channel, as the downstream 200 m
remains functionally intact with old-growth LWD (log and woody debris important habitat) retaining sedments in some of
the step-pools (Figure 9b). Lower slopes of this tributary watershed, including
those of Figure 9a, are projected for Phase 2 resort development.
In summary, application of “low impact development (LID1)” guidelines for
storm-water management (as outlined by Hinman 2005) should reduce risks to
salmonid habitat and sustain healthy steelhead and salmon stocks in Brohm
River and its fish-bearing tributaries. This will require integrated community
efforts, paired with ongoing education because land ownership will varies over
time. Ownership covenants may be needed to ensure low impact land-use
development practices are sustained, plus restrictive clauses may need to be
routinely publicized and enforced via bylaws. Furthermore, global warming
trends will constitute an added challenge, as El Nino’ flood and drought events
become more frequent over time.
Sorry for all the info thanks for those that have taken the time to read what i have put on here. Yes Vanislealoha the end of the report states that LID SHOULD reduce risks of being harmful. Words like should and reduce scare me, the train that was carrying caustic soda that dumped into the Cheakamus should not have done that, when the Coquihalla highway was being constructed there should not have been poison dumped into the river killing most everything in it. When projects and construction occur right beside a river things happen that developers to not intend to have happen but the reality is accidents do happen and when they do there is often no rewind button on the affects. I do know one thing for certain if this project doesn't go ahead there will be no negative effect on Brohm river and the fish in the Cheakamus. My Grandfather and my father chased steelhead on this river system as do I certainly hope i'm not going to be the last generation that gets to pursue them up there I already know that I am seeing the worst of the steelhad population up there. The fact that I have been told by inside sources that if the project happens with out extra measures to protect the fish it will certainly be the end of them!!!! I would not be hearing comments like this or having to start petitions if this project wasn't happening. Theres enough development in Whistler let the people keep going that extra 55km if they want to ski. If they want to Golf theres already a course in Squamish, Furry Creek and Whistler. As far as I am concerned this project is just another greedy rich person wanting to become wealthier with no regard to the well being of what makes this Province great its environment!!!! Brian Braidwood
