"The boaters of Prince George and the businesses that cater to them contribute more than $2 million dollars a year to the local economy"

I'd like to see how this number was computed.

Why is that NMG? Boaters spend thousands each year for fuel alone. I was surprised they're saying its only just over 2 million. Boating is big business and big bucks are passed around for the pleasure of it all. I had a jetboat for a few years but found it hard to afford the fuel and do anything else in life for fun. This boat launch needs to be useable any time the water is open on our rivers. Lives may depend on it. Keeping it plowed is a no brainer.

So if the boaters contribute 2 million, just think how much the car drivers contribute.

Probably took longer to decide to send it to a committee than it is to actually clear the snow and ice from it ONCE A YEAR.

Ridiculous that something like this would even go to committee and not just get it done.

Is the river not open right now? What makes the spring so special?

As I understand it, the concern is not access to general boaters for pleasure. The concern is for access to those who are trained and are considered to be experts in the city that can be responsible for attempting to rescue one or more people who have ended up in or on the river. That could happen right now or anytime the river is open in any location, even when the open part is not accessible by boat.

I am certainly no expert in river rescue, but I would think that one of the choices would be to go in by helicopter rather than to put a boater in danger.

I would also think that river rescue on any day in the year and any time of the day, including when it is dark, would be one of the situations addresses by those responsible to handle emergencies in this city, such as the fire department and the police. If that is not the case, then the City departments for such scenarios may have been caught totally flat footed. If we are not prepared for this situation, as it looks like right now, what other emergencies are we not prepared for?

In my opinion, keeping an access open to the general public may end up making matters worse. I would think that any watercraft access would have to be securely gated if it is kept clear of ice and snow. In addition, those who are responsible for unlocking it would have to know who it is that is allowed to gain access in an emergency situation.

Here is the way I think it should be done. The site is from the Clackamas County Swift Water Incident/Flood Team in North-eastern Oregon.
http://www.clackamas.us/sheriff/info.jsp?name=swift.htm

Gus I suggest you check out Prince George Search and Rescue. They are the ones with river rescue expertise. That is who the police call on and the fire dept does not go outside the city.

Thanks seamutt ......

I am not the one responsible, however. The City is. The river is within the City limits and they have some responsibility, at least in my view, to handle such rescues should it be needed, whether in a park, on the river, or in a burning or collapsed building. I think it all falls under EMS.

So, why then was it not Prince George Search and Rescue that was at City Hall, I wonder.

Maybe someone can coordinate all these different groups who think it is their role to do something when it is really someone else's.

Gus, what frustrates me is the fact that we have ONE boat ramp. We have two rivers, I think the boat ramp out in Miworth is regional district. Two rivers and one park, again, out in Miworth. Used to have a great beach in the Cache way back when, but nothing in the city has been developed. There's a great spot by Foothills bridge, don't know if that's private land but man, you'd think if that area is owned by the city, they'd at least develop it and get the parking off that 80 Kph freeway, somebody's gonna get hit one of these days. Got no docks, no more seaplane base, I really don't get it.
Can't believe the City forgets about search and rescue for the boat ramp, same thing with that search and rescue place on the Hart not being plowed.

My old neighbor went water skiing on the Nechako River in January a few years back just to show it could be done... I think he made the front page of the paper for it too....

"Ridiculous that something like this would even go to committee and not just get it done."

Would that fall under the snow clearing budget?

Interesting that we bitch and complain about the increased taxes but we forget where the money comes from when we just expect to 'get it done' .

Ask an equipment operator what it feels like when they lose traction on an icy slope. When the poor SOB slides into an icy river and drowns trying to get out of his overturned loader I'm sure someone will ask why we never thought of that. Sometimes the simplest ideas require a little investigation prior to commitment.

Just 'get it done'? ...I don't think so...at least not on my watch.