The April 28 issue of the Cochrane Eagle contained a lovely photo by Ryan McLeod of a woman helping a child cross the stream at Big Hill Springs Park while other children look on. The moment reminds me of the joy of introducing children to nature and of my own times as a child exploring in and interacting with nature. Big Hill Springs has been an oasis for locals and tourists alike who need a dose of the rejuvenating power of nature.
I had not been to the park in more than three years and recently went back to take in our amazingly early spring. In the past there was just a main loop trail through the park but now the whole area is riddled with new unofficial footpaths and the creek shoreline is heavily trampled. Where lush riparian vegetation used to fringe the shore, compacted foot-pounded dirt is all that now remains.
Watching visitors come and go, it seems that nobody stays on the main path. Everyone wanders off trail to the shore of the creek to explore. There is now so much damage to the shoreline it’s even hard to tell what was the official path from the newly trodden ones.
I am not blaming any particular group; everyone I saw was using the area as their personal playground. Moms and dads encourage their kids to rock climb on the tufa mounds, skid down fragile, steep slopes on their bums and walk in the creek with their rubber boots. Teens and preteens build log teepees in the forest, hack away at trees with knives and sticks and create eroded shortcuts off the main trail. Lovers carve their initials in the bark of aspen trees. Dog owners let their charges have free rein off leash. Photographers walk off trail to get up close to the waterfalls for the perfect shot. Picnickers set up away from the picnic tables and eat their lunches on the shore of the creek. Late night visitors build campfires in the dry grass and use deadfall to fire up the night.
In short, the increased number of visitors and the variety of off-trail activity has led to a “tragedy of the commons” at Big Hill Springs Park. Can we save this unique and special park from ourselves? It’ll take education, remediation and empowerment to make this happen but the first step we can all take to prevent further damage is to simply stay on the main trail.
Darwin Wiggett
