Proposal to Expand Smuggler Cove Marine Provincial Park

The Sargeant Bay Society hopes to see remaining areas of Coastal Douglas Fir and Coastal Western Hemlock on the Sunshine Coast preserved. To this end, we have partnered with the Sunshine Coast Conservation Association to submit a proposal for the expansion of Smuggler Cove Marine Provincial Park.

“The following Proposal is the result of many years of working towards preserving as much as possible of the inadequately protected Coastal Douglas-fir (CDF) and adjacent CWH (Coastal Western Hemlock) ecozones on the Sunshine Coast Peninsula.

The ultimate goal is to provide a biodiversity corridor reaching from the shoreline of Smuggler Cove MPP (SCMPP) to the upslope forests above Highway 101 in Halfmoon Bay. The management format that this proposed addition to existing protected areas may ultimately take remains to be determined. This could range from an expansion of SCMPP, to lands protected under available BC Government statutes, to lands protected under appropriate land-use agreements with the shishalh Nation.

The most important end result is that as much of these lands as possible be saved in perpetuity for the enjoyment of future generations of all Sunshine Coast residents, while at the same time providing a biodiversity corridor stretching from sea level to higher elevation forests above Highway 101.”

Rand Rudland,
Chair, Sargeant Bay Society

A Proposal to Expand
Smuggler Cove Marine Provincial Park
on the Sunshine Coast

Proposed by:
The Sunshine Coast Conservation Association
and
The Sargeant Bay Society

Originally Submitted to:
The Joint shíshálh – B.C. Land Use Planning Process
April 2022
Revised: January 2025

Prepared by William D. Henwood and Elise and Rand Rudland

 

Executive Summary

This proposal to expand Smuggler Cove Marine Provincial Park (MPP) is respectfully submitted through Phase 2 of the Joint shíshálh-B.C. Land Use Planning process.  This proposal has three important objectives:

1. to improve the ecological integrity of Smuggler Cove’s marine and terrestrial ecosystems;
2. to protect a prime representative example of the endangered Coastal Douglas-fir moist maritime biogeoclimatic subzone (CDFmm), and the closely affiliated Coastal Western Hemlock very dry maritime subzone (CWHxm1), and educate the public about their local and national significance; and
3. to enhance public access to and enjoyment of an expanded walking and hiking experience in these coastal Douglas-fir forests to ease the burgeoning visitor pressure on the existing trail system in Smuggler Cove MPP..

In summary, the following are the salient points of this proposal:

• the CDF, and in particular the CDFmm, is the most endangered forest ecosystem in BC where less than 1% of the CDF remains in old growth forests, has the highest diversity of plant species in all of BC, and yet also has the highest density of species and ecosystems at risk;
• the CDF forest is recognized as a high conservation priority of provincial and national significance, and one of the biggest and best remaining stands of this forest is located here on the Sunshine Coast adjacent to Smuggler Cove MPP;
• the Homesite Creek and Truman Road forests are ideal for short walks and longer hikes in a mature Douglas-fir forest, and enhancement of their trail systems would do much to ease visitor pressure on the over utilized trails in Smuggler Cove MPP;
• this proposal is fully compliant with the plans, policies and aspirations of the local, regional and provincial government agencies that share responsibility for these lands and waters. They all support the conservation and protection of these marine ecosystems, islands and forests;
• this proposal acknowledges the Strategic Land Use Plan for the shíshálh Nation wherein existing protected areas in the Stewardship Area of the Land Use Plan will acknowledge the cultural or other needs of the shíshálh people, and provide opportunities for the continuation of shíshálh cultural use while permitting appropriate activities that respect shíshálh Nation territory; and
• The only land use issue associated with this proposal is the presence of a tenure for sand and gravel quarrying near the Brooks Road trail head to Homesite Creek Falls. This activity is highly inappropriate in this location and unlikely to ever occur. Proponents of this proposal would seek the termination of this quarry tenure.

Recommendations:

1. It is recommended that the marine waters, islands and forests as outlined in this expansion proposal be either: 1) incorporated into Smuggler Cove Marine Provincial Park through a legislative amendment to the Protected Areas of British Columbia Act; or 2) established as an Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (ICPA) through appropriate legislative measures;
2. A collaborative management agreement between the shíshálh Nation and BC Parks is encouraged to provide ongoing opportunities for shíshálh cultural use of the marine and terrestrial resources of Smuggler Cove MPP and to ensure the protection of historic and archaeological resources; and
3. A judiciously planned network of trails and minimal facilities be cooperatively managed and maintained through an amended BC Parks Partnership Agreement between the Government of BC and/or the shíshálh Nation and The Sargeant Bay Society. The existing agreement has been in place since 2020.

Downloadable PDF File Containing the Proposal