Wading in on Shuswap

Photo: shuswappassion.ca

There will be more public consultation on the controversial topic of whether or not boating should be controlled along the Shuswap River.

A public meeting is expected by mid-March, said Herman Halvorson, Electoral Area F director. 

Halvorson said he has had “a lot of inquiries, a lot of people phoning me.”

An outside consultant was hired last year to calm the waters stirred up over proposed boating regulations on the river.

Recommended regulations unveiled last year prompted thousands of responses. In June, a survey showed views had become polarized.

Alex Grzybowski of Pacific Resolutions is handling this second phase of public consultation.

“(The public) will be able to comment through different individuals who are on the advisory committee or at the end of the day they can put in their own submission through email,” said Halvorson. “The consultant should have it all summarized hopefully by June and then where it goes from there, when it gets presented – it could go to Transport Canada and who knows how long it will take?” 

Pollution, noise, safety concerns, bank erosion and critical salmon spawning grounds were some of the big issues looked at when the proposed regulations were considered.