At Fairy Fen, the tracks of ATVs and off-road vehicles are coming dangerously close to the nature reserve, says Jennifer Eliason of the Islands Trust Fund. And the activities pose a threat to the area that only three years ago was one of the least disturbed and ecologically rare fens in southern BC.
"Previously, there was evidence that ATVs were operated in the vicinity but now we see tire marks that go right up to edges of the fen," Eliason said, explaining that the area has been closely monitored over the last months due to growing concern that it could be destroyed despite it protected status.
The Fairy Fen Nature Reserve was formerly Crown land and was transferred by the province to the Islands Trust Fund to protect its remarkable biodiversity. The Islands Trust Fund and the Bowen Island Conservancy have posted signs designating the area as vehicle-free but this year, off-road activities like mud bogging have increased. And riding ATVs and dirt bikes close to the fen can have serious impacts. "Creating ruts in the soil can alter the hydrology of the fen," Eliason explained. "It can change the drainage patterns of the low-lying area where water has collected for millennia. The water flow in and out of the wetland is crucial to this very sensitive ecosystem."
"Many people from the community worked very hard for a number of years to see the fen protected," said Owen Plowman, president of the Bowen Island Conservancy. "But now, a very small number of people are undoing all that work. The loss of Fairy Fen, especially after it was secured as a nature reserve, would be heartbreaking."
Another potential threat is the disturbance of vegetation and streams that feed the fen, says Eliason. She added that mud bogging on public land like the Fairy Fen is illegal in B.C. Violation tickets for mud bogging are $575, and other penalties can include towing or impoundment of vehicles, jail time and expenses related to habitat restoration.
The Islands Trust Fund and the Bowen Island Conservancy have not been able to identify ATV users riding in the nature reserve - they've only seen the tire tracks. A press release issued by the Islands Trust states that "the Trust hopes to connect with ATV clubs or users from Bowen Island interested in becoming advocates for responsible ATV use" but Eliason said that so far no discussion has taken place.
Plowman expressed doubts that the latest incident was caused by ATV enthusiasts who live on the island. He hopes to initiate a dialogue with locals in the fall.
Kevan Bernard, who rides an off-road vehicle, believes that the fact that there is no organized club advocating for motorized recreation issues might be a hurdle to starting a communication between different interest groups.
"I can't speak for the ATV crowd as a whole, but as someone who enjoys the outdoors by hiking, motorcycling and four-wheeling, I will say our Crown land is an important asset to all of us, no matter which way we choose to enjoy it," Bernard says.
And even though Bernard believes that boundaries and protected areas should be respected, he doesn't think that an outright ban on one type of recreation is the answer.
"I've grown up on Bowen and for me, many forms of motorized fun have been a part of this experience. It has been a part of island life for me and many of my friends and I believe that it can successfully continue alongside many other types of outdoor recreation on Bowen as long as those who partake respect the environment that we all enjoy," he said.
Bernard mentioned that there are other trails and areas outside the fen on Crown land that are available and he believes that access to these places should remain open to all enthusiasts.
He also had a suggestion: "Many other small communities in B.C. (Squamish is an excellent example) have embraced motorized recreation and created designated trail areas. Maybe Bowen could look into this option. It would require a lot of volunteer hours but might be well worth the investment and may help to resolve what's happening in the fen."
The Islands Trust Fund would like to hear from local ATV users and encourages interested parties to contact the Islands Trust Fund at 250-405-5186 (Victoria) or toll free through Enquiry BC at 1-800-663-7867 (or 604-660-2421 in Vancouver), or visit the website at http://www.islandstrustfund.bc.ca/.
To report suspicious motorized vehicle activity near the Fairy Fen Nature Reserve, call the province's toll-free, 24 hour Report All Polluters line at 1-877-952-7277 (or from a cell phone *7277).
"It has taken nearly 12,000 years to create the peat layer that now stands three meters over the lake that once stood at Fairy Fen. A single footprint in the peat can take months to disappear," Eliason said.
"Spinning tires could destroy this special place forever."
