Good job people! Lots of naysayers on here, but anyone that has ever donated a nickel's worth of time knows the hell you guys went through to see this through.

Congratulations on a job well done, and good for you on hanging in there.

There is a boat launch on the Fraser at Shelly Townsite. There is a perfect spot for one south of the BCR site across from the Carrier Lumber mill with the road and slope already in place.

I have a big complaint about restrictions of access for those that like to do the sport that built this country. To canoe the river you have to let in up river if you are to float and enjoy the river.

I recently had a heated debate a couple of days ago with a fellow named Denis that owns property at the very end of Otway road out Miworth. It used to be you could drive down and launch your canoe from the bench in district lot 7638.

Denis decided he didn't like the fact when people went down to the bench his dogs would follow them. His 180 acre plot on the river was not enough he figured he should also block public access to the crown land on the bench that canoeists use to launch their canoes.

The solution for Denis was to put up a metal gate before the rail crossing on crown land (reason being he now has to pay CN Rail $500 for the crossing). Furthermore Denis felt it necessary to use a excavator to dig a ditch across the road down to the bench also on crown land DL 7638. Putting up the gate on his own property after the fork in the road to the bench never occurred to him.

Denis claims he would allow access for canoeists to the Bench if the Regional District ploughed the road in the winter to his property line, as well as banned target shooting in the nearby gravel pit, and usage signage and enforcement policies to deal with people that litter in gravel pits. It should be noted that the gravel pit is not blocked by Denis, but the canoeing launch point bench is blocked. It should also be noted that Denis has a point on the garbage issue, as I had a crime in action with reportable evidence last week, and the RCMP told me it is not a criminal offence in Canada to litter and therefore even if I have the information for the person responsible for littering they can not do anything about it. The fact remains that Denis is using that as a supporting argument in his illegal blockade of the river.

At the end of the day Denis says he does not care about community concerns, or public access to the river that has been an historical fact for at least the last 30 years that I know of. He says the regional district ignores his concerns so he has a right to block all public access as his right as a neighbouring land owner to crown land.

IMO it is a failure of the Regional District in their land use planning (and bi-law enforcement) that takes into account the right for the public to have access to our rivers especially for something as important as that specific launch location. A prime location upstream of a couple of really great side channels and some of the best wildlife viewing locations on the Nechako River before reaching Wilkons Park.

I would like to see the upstream Miworth bench incorporated into the Wilkons Park and then make it a chain of parks for the canoe enthusiast (prior to 2010) with another downstream park at Island Park. Island Park is a good disembarking point because it is before heavy residential areas, and after most of the natural river scenery, and is the only safe location for river swimming within 50km of Prince George (too many people die swimming in our other substandard park locations in this city).

I also want to bitch about that guy that put up his new fence at Salmon Valley on the South East side of the river claiming the river bank and all up river trails. I haven't yet been able to confront him, but I will when he shows his face around there.

Time Will Tell

That is one awesome boat launch.
I would like to extend a big thank you
to all who made it happen.
It is so much better than the old gravel
launch, there is no comparison.
It would indeed be good to have lighting there, and a dumpster too.
I know first hand (not from this project) how much dedication it takes for a group of volunteers to pull something like this off. First of all, there is never enough people in the group, so a few end up doing the lions share of the work (you know who you are, good on you) Without your committment, this would not have been accomplished. So, a bouquet to the Prince George riverboat association for seeing the new boat launch through to completion.
It is also, I believe, bound to increase tourist traffic, which will only help our local economy.
metalman.

Are you able to use it or is it currently flooded like the rest of the area? Looks good though at least there are associations that push for this stuff, since the City would never on their own accord