The recent rains not only closed Highway 52 N to Dawson Creek for the better part of the week, but they also forced the closure of the lower loop at the Lion’s Flatbed Campground.
While the high water didn’t overrun the creek’s banks, it did erode a large section of the bank, including the road to the back portion of the campground near the group shelter.
It also forced the closure of the swimming area, which was still closed as the paper went to press.
Operations Manager Doug Beale says this is a trend that has become too common, especially with the wet summers Tumbler Ridge has seen the last few years.
He wants to see the banks properly stabilized with rip rap, to prevent further washout of the gravel banks.
This, he says, will not be an easy fix. “In order to do work along the creek, you need permits in place,” he says. “The plan is to put rip rap along the bank. We lost quite a bit of the bank this time.”
He expects the repair will be a big budget item, not currently in the town’s budget. In order to get it approved, council will either have to add it to the budget for this year, or put it on the books for next year.
A section of the bank, from the bridge to just past the pump station has already been stabilized. Beale is hoping to extend that to the end of the campground.
While that won’t happen until next year, he expects the lower section of the campground will be open later this week. “We will be opening up fairly soon,” he says. “We just have to re-route the road.” For now, he says, signage will be placed along the bank to warn people that it is unstable.
Update: The lower loop has since been reopened.
