By: Kristina Swerhun
“I don’t understand why when we destroy something created by man, we call it vandalism, but when we destroy something created by nature, we call it progress.”― Ed Begley Jr.
From the outset and as indicated in Whistler’s first Official Community Plan, the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) intended to protect nature. However, it’s difficult to build a resort municipality without impacting nature and, unfortunately, wetlands are located exactly where the RMOW and developers wanted to build—the flat valley bottom.
(Photo credit: Diamond Head Consulting)
Biodiversity is the foundation of healthy, functioning ecosystems upon which all life depends. Wetlands are vital to biodiversity, and not just to the many species that can survive nowhere else. Wetlands also benefit humans by purifying water, protecting against floods and drought, recharging aquifers, and acting as effective wildfire barriers—roles that are increasingly important as the climate changes.
Whistler’s wetland history
In 2007, wetland loss was the subject of a Simon Fraser University (SFU) study that compared aerial photos of Whistler taken in 1946 and 2003. Researchers found that Whistler’s wetlands decreased by 72%. Note that the study area extended south of Whistler to Daisy Lake, and doesn’t contain earlier and more recent losses, including when the new BC Transit station was built on a wetland near Nesters ahead of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
According to the SFU study, Whistler’s largest wetland area today—which follows the River of Golden Dreams—used to be two to three times its current size. Within this corridor, roughly half of the wetlands were lost to residential development, while the other half were lost to the Whistler Golf Course (1983) and Nicklaus North Golf Course (1996).
There’s some good news, too. Before Nicklaus North GC opened, 650 people attended a public hearing over concerns about wetlands. This support and advocacy by the then-nascent Association of Whistler Area Residents for the Environment (AWARE) and others saved 28 hectares (70 acres) of wetland from being filled in by the golf course. Also, the River of Golden Dreams corridor now has protected areas along its length, which is the subject of next week’s article.
Beavers for the win
The health of wetlands is directly tied to the presence of beavers; one cannot thrive without the other. The 1935 Mammals of the Alta Lake Region report states that “the beaver has been completely trapped out in the district for over 20 years.” Even after the demand for fur stopped, beavers were affected by development and loss of their wetland habitat. Despite these challenges, beavers have been on the road to recovery. In 2024, researcher Bob Brett documented 60 inhabited beaver lodges and estimated that 300-350 beavers live in Whistler. This example of nature’s resilience shows us that recovery is possible, provided we offer life the opportunity to return.
A community-wide effort is essential for protecting Whistler’s remaining wetlands. In 2024, the RMOW developed the Priority Habitat Framework, a plan to help protect Whistler’s most important natural habitat, including wetlands. Another way to protect nature is through grassroots advocacy. When community members speak up about their concerns and show they care for nature, it not only raises awareness—it also fosters hope and inspires others to take action.