Raven Bay: Regional Park or Log Dump?

Raven Bay: Regional Park or Log Dump?
The British Columbia Ministry of Forests quashes a modest proposal for a small Regional Park

Just a few hundred meters south of Surge Narrows passage on central Quadra Island, a protected bay harbors one of the few sandy beaches for miles around. This little gem is a natural haven for recreational users and is strategically located almost adjacent to Surge Narrows Marine Park. Raven Bay is a picturesque campsite and also offers the only perfect stop-over for paddlers waiting for slack tide and opportunity to go through the tidal passage. The increase in recreational and commercial sea kayakers has led to an over-use of Freedom Point, only other identified campsite in the area.

Surge Narrows is a dramatic and interesting marine park for sea kayaking; the tidal rapids create rich nutrient for abundant intertidal marine life, and other animals. It also offers relatively safe, challenging moving water: an opportunity for sea kayakers to practice advanced skills in predictable conditions.

The tidal rapids are also a playground for beginner and intermediate whitewater paddlers -- with advanced whitewater available at the Okisollo rapids 5 km up the channel.

Six months ago a multitude of users (in government terms, ’ÄúStakeholders’Äù) proposed making Raven Bay a Regional Park. It was all set to happen, with support from many groups including the Vancouver Island Whitewater Paddlers Society, British Columbia Whitewater Kayakers Association, Quadra Island Trails Committee, Quadra Island Chamber of Commerce, Sea Kayak guides Alliance of BC, and a half dozen commercial kayak tour operators -- in addition to dozens of individuals, teachers, and recreational kayakers... The proposal was modest: protect 5 acres surrounding the beach (and leave the other 1,000 acres or so to the forest industry). For the sum of $1, Ministry of Lands offered the Raven Bay area to the Regional District for Park purposes.

We were elated.

But the district manager of the local British Columbia Ministry of Forests intervened, blocking this popular (and sensible) park proposal. In British Columbia, the forest industry gets Veto power over nearly everything and despite the growing (and sustainable) economic clout of recreational and commercial tourism, the forest sector seems to have got its way again.

While local groups continue the fight to protect Raven Bay, the outlook is not promising. Please watch for our updates on this situation. We will need one more round of support when the Woodlot plans are submitted, sometime soon...