However, it is well documented that sensitive alpine meadows can be loved to death if proper care is not taken to protect them from the damage of visitors. Semaphore Lakes is quickly becoming a disaster and if action is not taken to stop the damage soon, it may take years or even decades for the area to recover.

Some specific challenges:

People are literally defecating all over the place since there is no outhouse and this will contaminate the lakes that are used as a source of drinking water for visitors.

People are cutting down live wood for camp fires.

Trails are scattered everywhere in the meadow due to the lack of a plan or trail markers.

Campsites are scattered everywhere and are damaging the alpine meadows.

The government is responsible for ensuring that this land managed appropriately. A number of simple and affordable measures will provide protection to the area, increase the safety of the visitor experience, and allow it to continue to deliver benefits to the people of BC.

The trail needs to be upgraded and properly marked.

A specific area needs to be designated for camping and backcountry campsites (gravel and/or wood platforms) need to be installed.

An outhouse needs to be installed.

There needs to be a ban on fires in the subalpine and alpine where there are no appropriate sources of wood.

The easiest way to achieve these objectives is to bring the area into the BC Parks system. Some of these campsites would count towards the goal announced in the new BC Parks Future strategy and could be funded out of that budget. Alternatively, the area may be brought into the BC Recreation Sites and Trails system.

There are many volunteers that are interested in putting in labour to execute a plan once the the government is able to give the area an official designation, approve a plan, and provide funding for raw materials.

A small petition was started last year and directed at Christy Clark who was the Premier at the time. Promotion of the petition has been limited as we are wary about bringing even more attention to this area but we did collect 212 signatures — many from people with extensive experience.

I’d like to bring your attention to a handful of the thoughtful comments that were left on the petition as well as some pictures that highlight the environmental and recreational assets that deserve protection.