Stop the Development!

The entire expansion of the ski resort in the former Provincial Park lands is based on two fundamentally flawed concepts; that being,  1) the number of bed units allowed on the mountain is based on the uphill carrying capacity of the chairlifts, rather than on the limitations of the ecosystem it is situated in, and that 2) sewage effluent from the resort will be disposed of in the former park lands at the headwaters of two community watersheds. It appears as if the primary reason that 510 hectares was removed from the southeast corner of the park in 2001 was for land-based sewage disposal. This contravenes the very principals that led to the establishment of the park in the first place; that being the preservation of the subalpine environment for future generations to enjoy. And, the current and proposed sewage effluent disposal methods pose a threat to the drinking water supply of thousands of local residents. The only sensible thing to do is to put a hold on all development on the mountain until the environmental and public health issues are brought before the public and addressed. Proposed growth on the mountain should be reassessed and should be based on respect for the environment and public health, rather than on the uphill carrying capacity of the lifts.

Silver Star Mountain may well be on its way to being another Big White. If you haven't been to Big White lately, and you want to get a taste of what Silver Star Mountain could be like in a few years, you should drive up to the Big White ski area. You'll see massive hotels and condominiums, and urban sprawl in what for the most part is a fairly remote area. Currently at 15,000 bed units, Big White is still undergoing rapid expansion, with many hotels and vacation home sites under construction.

Big White Ski Resort - Summer of 2008

 

How Does Big White Handle Sewage?

Since one of the main environmental and public health issues surrounding real estate development at Silver Star Mountain is sewage disposal, it is helpful to observe how Big White handles their sewage. After all, the two ski areas are owned by the same family, so it isn't unreasonable to expect many similarities. Photos of Big White's sewage treament lagoons are shown below:

Sludge pond at Big White Ski Resort - Wildlife could easily climb over the derelict fencing and become trapped in the ponds.

 

Rapid infiltration basin at Big White sewage effluent disposal area. This massive area is comprised of many ponds like this, and is currently being expanded to accommodate growth at the resort.

 

Concrete culvert and flow control valves used for filling rapid infiltration basins at Big White.

  

Aerial view of Big White sewage lagoons and infiltration basins

 

Sewage effluent line running from Big White sewage lagoons to the rapid-infiltration basins - This section had been dug out to repair a break in the line.

 

You can see from the photos above that there indeed are many similarities between Big White and Silver Star. Big White's sewage is handled by a privately owned sewage utility, Big White Sewer Utility Ltd., and Silver Star's sewage is also processed by a private company, Silverhawk Utilities Inc.

Big White runs effluent down a 4 inch polyethylene line from its sewage lagoons to the infiltration basins some 2.5 km distant, in much the same manner as Silver Star is preparing to do with its effluent line to the golf course lands.

Of course, the geology differs between the two mountains, and whereas the soils at Big White may lend themselves to sewage disposal to groundwater via rapid infiltration, the situation at Silver Star is much different. If development continues at Silver Star as planned, it may jeopardize the water supply of tens of thousands of people for generations to come.