Shuswap River plan sinks

Photo: Enderby Chamber of Commerce

Tubers come in for criticism in a report on the lower Shuswap River.

An advisory committee has failed to agree on boating regulations for the Shuswap River despite lengthy talks with the help of a mediator.

The Lower Shuswap River advisory committee is made up of stakeholder groups that include motorized and non-motorized boating users and related businesses. The group is one of two that have spent months discussing how to police the Shuswap.

In a report presented to the North Okanagan Regional District board Wednesday, the group agreed a code of conduct for users of the lower Shuswap River should be enacted and enforced. The area includes Mabel lake to Baxter Bridge, Baxter Bridge to W.J. Tuey (Waterwheel) Regional Park and Waterwheel Park to Mara Lake.

The report's proposals are substantially different from a plan two years ago that would have restricted and in some cases banned motorized vessels along the Shuswap. That idea caused an uproar.

“Effective enforcement is key to backstopping public education and monitoring,” stated the report.

However, there was no agreement in boating regulations.

Instead, motorized users from the advisory committee submitted separate proposals including:

• implementation of a 50 km/hr from Mara Lake to Mable Lake but 60 km/hr if boats are pulling water skiers
• installation of swim barriers at the beach at Tuey Park and possibly Cook Creek and Isabel Falls swim areas
• installation of channel control markers between the new tube hand launch and Tuey Park
• implement of a code of conduct that would stop flooding of ballast tanks, or deploying stern wedges for the purpose of creating a larger wake; no towing of tubes in S formation, keep stereo volumes at a respectful level, staying out of tributaries and side channels; keeping motorized vessels in the main channel
• moving Enderby boat launch upstream of Enderby Bridge and potentially opening boat launches at McGowan Road, Grindrod and upriver of Baxter Bridge

The separate submission also said, “Attempts by special interest groups to restrict or eliminate motorized use on the Shuswap River have been an overwhelming source of anxiety for motor boat groups and property owners for decades. We have put this proposal forward in an effort to bring this matter to a permanent close.”

Meanwhile tubers came in for some criticism from the whole advisory committee.

“The amount of people entering the river with inflatable devices to float down the river (tubers) are causing serious concerns among many area residents. This concern is shared by all members of the Lower Shuswap River Advisory Committee. Concerns include safety, damage to habitat, disturbance due to alcohol consumption, trespass on private property, aggressive and disrespectful behavior, garbage left behind, congestion and dangerous behaviour on the road in parking sites."

It's recommended a strategy be developed to reduce the impacts of tubing on the river and surrounding area. 

A separate advisory group looked at regulations and stewardship of the Upper Shuswap River.