Squamish Marine Access Review

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The District of Squamish is conducting a Downtown Marine Access Review to assess community ocean access needs, coordinate marine access areas and infrastructure, and improve ocean access for all marine users.

Advancing actions in the 2018 Marine Action Strategy, the review aims to:

  • Create a unified map of marine access points in Squamish, as well as marine areas of cultural, ecological, social, and economic importance
  • Assess ocean access needs, challenges, and opportunities in Squamish for all marine users
  • Examine boat launching needs and options within the community
  • Develop recommendations for Council to improve ocean access, funding, and management

Working with the community, we want to ensure an inclusive, accessible, safe, healthy, vibrant and working waterfront for all.

Let us know what is important to you:

  • Take the Marine Access Survey(s) (Surveys now closed. They were open February 17-March 13, 2022)
  • Mark the Marine Access Map below to indicate the marine areas that are most important to you (Map now closed. It was open from February 17-March 27, 2022)
  • Join us at a Waterfront Pop Up and Community Open House (March-April 2022)
  • Comment on draft priorities and marine access recommendations (April-May 2022)

Click here for a map of the core downtown area included in this review. The downtown core marine access review area includes community water access points and infrastructure (existing, interim, planned future) within the Mamquam Blind Channel (upper, mid and lower reaches), and Cattermole Slough (East of Third Avenue).

As part of this process, we have engaged to hear from:

  • Community members and visitors to the marine environment
  • Outdoor recreationalists
  • Community organizations
  • Businesses
  • Land owners and marine tenure holders
  • Commercial and industrial operators
  • Government agencies, regulators, and public safety staff
  • Marine researchers, educators and citizen scientists

In Spring 2022, staff reviewed and considered the responses from the surveys, marine access mapping tool, and conversations at the community pop-ups. A summary of what we heard and initial directions and recommendations were presented to Council on April 12, 2022. View the Staff Report and Engagement Summary here.

The community insights and priorities identified during this process will inform the recommendations for Council for both short-term and long-term marine access planning. This work will be continuing through the winter and staff expect to bring back an update and recommendations to the District's new Council in early 2023.


The District of Squamish is conducting a Downtown Marine Access Review to assess community ocean access needs, coordinate marine access areas and infrastructure, and improve ocean access for all marine users.

Advancing actions in the 2018 Marine Action Strategy, the review aims to:

  • Create a unified map of marine access points in Squamish, as well as marine areas of cultural, ecological, social, and economic importance
  • Assess ocean access needs, challenges, and opportunities in Squamish for all marine users
  • Examine boat launching needs and options within the community
  • Develop recommendations for Council to improve ocean access, funding, and management

Working with the community, we want to ensure an inclusive, accessible, safe, healthy, vibrant and working waterfront for all.

Let us know what is important to you:

  • Take the Marine Access Survey(s) (Surveys now closed. They were open February 17-March 13, 2022)
  • Mark the Marine Access Map below to indicate the marine areas that are most important to you (Map now closed. It was open from February 17-March 27, 2022)
  • Join us at a Waterfront Pop Up and Community Open House (March-April 2022)
  • Comment on draft priorities and marine access recommendations (April-May 2022)

Click here for a map of the core downtown area included in this review. The downtown core marine access review area includes community water access points and infrastructure (existing, interim, planned future) within the Mamquam Blind Channel (upper, mid and lower reaches), and Cattermole Slough (East of Third Avenue).

As part of this process, we have engaged to hear from:

  • Community members and visitors to the marine environment
  • Outdoor recreationalists
  • Community organizations
  • Businesses
  • Land owners and marine tenure holders
  • Commercial and industrial operators
  • Government agencies, regulators, and public safety staff
  • Marine researchers, educators and citizen scientists

In Spring 2022, staff reviewed and considered the responses from the surveys, marine access mapping tool, and conversations at the community pop-ups. A summary of what we heard and initial directions and recommendations were presented to Council on April 12, 2022. View the Staff Report and Engagement Summary here.

The community insights and priorities identified during this process will inform the recommendations for Council for both short-term and long-term marine access planning. This work will be continuing through the winter and staff expect to bring back an update and recommendations to the District's new Council in early 2023.


Ask a Question

Do you have a question about this project? Please ask us here.

  • Your question will be public once we have answered it. If your question contains personal information we may not make your question public and may respond privately. 
  • Your username and question may appear in reports to Council as part of engagement reporting.
  • Questions that do not contribute to a safe and respectful space for others, or are unrelated to this topic, will not be answered. Please review our moderation policy.

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    What adjustments are being made to the new waterfront park to accommodate the100+ daily windsports users in the new park? For example one obvious need is substantially increased parking planned? How many additional park users with cars does the district anticipate?

    GHume asked about 1 year ago

    Thank you for the questions about windsports beach access at the new 11 acre Sp’akw’us Feather Park at the Squamish Oceanfront. The waterfront area is now under construction and contains a dedicated water and windsports beach on the eastern side of the park (between Headlands 2 and 3). The main parking area will accommodate 44 surface parking stalls, as well as a pickup and drop off zone at the main park entry/plaza (~ approximately 100 m from the beachfront). In addition, there will be 59 stalls in the lot next to the presentation centre, and surface parking in adjacent lots that prior to their development. There will also be parallel on-street parking (~ approximately 350 street parking spots) throughout the development by build out of the Oceanfront. Long-term there will also be significant parking offered via underground parkades within walking distance to the beach. On the Mamquam Blind Channel, the future Sailing Centre will feature a drop off location 100m from the beach. (Note, for comparison the walking distance from the turn around at the spit to the end of the spit was 170m). The water and windsports beach launch and backshore area at the Oceanfront have been sized and designed with lay down area for staging for kite-specific use. Vegetation and lighting elements in this area are being kept low to minimize any interference for windsports users.

    For more information, park renderings and updates through construction: https://oceanfrontsquamish.com/stories/oceanfront-park-construction-commencing/

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    In response to another users question a part of the response was "While the Spit is not within the focus area of this project". How can likely the most heavily used water front area in our community that has just been list to recreational access not be in the focus area of the review? How was this decision made? Is it being reconsidered? If not why? What needs to happen to ensure we consider our entire water front access area?

    GHume asked about 1 year ago

    Thanks for the expanded question on the Downtown Marine Access project review area and scope. The marine access review has defined the ‘core area’ of the review as the Mamquam Blind Channel since it has the most diversity of users, activity areas and number of water access points. As a result, it needs close attention to coordinate all marine uses, safety considerations, accessibility needs, as well as any existing and future planned infrastructure.

    The District recognizes the continued desire for and evolving access situation at the spit. While the spit is not part of the ‘core area’ of this project, the access needs, inputs and learning gained as part of this project will help to inform ocean access conversations for the spit and larger estuary area.

     The shape of future access for the spit is being looked at through a dedicated engagement and visioning process that is already underway and involves Squamish Nation, as well as the Province, as joint managers of the Wildlife Management Area. The District is co-facilitating this work with Squamish Nation and engaging with stakeholders including Squamish Terminals, Squamish Windsports Society, and Tourism Squamish on access considerations. The process will explore interim and long term ideas specific to the spit and the newly created ‘spit island’ south of the yellow gate.

    Considering the relationship between different ocean access areas and marine users is an important part of the marine access review. The larger Squamish River estuary, as well as Darrell Bay, are both key context areas that are being considered in relation to the ‘core area’ for this project.

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    Hello! When is the pop up event for the Marine Action Survey?

    Laura Prosko asked about 1 year ago

    Thank you for this question and your interest in this project. There are two in-person community pop-ups planned:

    Friday March 4, 2022: 

    Drop-in to chat and look at marine access maps with District staff at the Squamish Boat Launch between 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.. The drop-in session will be rain or shine (social distancing in effect). The boat launch is located next to the Government Wharf at Vancouver Street and Loggers' Lane. 

    Friday March 11, 2022:

    Drop-in to chat and look at marine access maps with District staff at Xwu'nekw Park between 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.. The drop-in session will be rain or shine (social distancing in effect). The park is located at Main Street and Loggers' Lane in downtown Squamish.

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    Can Squamish council please consider where kitesurf, windsurf & other windsport users can safely launch from? With the removal of spit access and multi-year construction at Newport Beach there is no safe place for people enter & exit the water from. Hopefully there are no serious injuries or drownings as the result of the removal of these safe options for windsports users.

    matt.westwood asked about 1 year ago

    Thanks for your comment and engagement. The Marine Access Review is considering access needs across all marine use types, including recreational windsports activities. 

    The focus of the Marine Access Review is on ocean access points via the Mamquam Blind Channel. While the Spit is not within the focus area of this project, there are ongoing discussions happening about ocean access in the Squamish River Estuary, including the Spit Road access and Skwelwil’em Squamish Estuary Wildlife Management Area. The information provided during this project will help to inform those ongoing conversations. 

    Safe access, staging and parking amenities and sensitive area protections are all key aspects of the Marine Access Review to develop recommendations for the community. 

Page last updated: 24 Nov 2022, 05:29 PM