In a show of community spirit that Revelstoke is known for, boat users now can enjoy a smoother boat launch at the Carnes Creek recreation site thanks to the Revelstoke Rotary Club, the community, and local organizations.
Demand for a new boat launch site has been rising over the years as use of the popular Martha Creek launch is restricted to the park’s open season. Access closes in fall and is re-opened in mid-May.
A few locals put their heads together and came up with the solution at Carnes Creek.
“What started as an idea over a campfire think tank session has now become a reality,” Rotarian Malcolm Bott said.
The idea to enhance the Carnes site with a more user friendly ramp started moving forward in the spring last year and a number of organizations came together to make it happen.
Salvaged excess rebar came from the Mica expansion projects wind-down and Rotary got the okay from the local Recreation Sites and Trails B.C. office for the project, plus a commitment for funding.
Money for the project was also donated from residents and many local contracting businesses donated their time and supplies, such as H & J Ready Mix, Revelstoke Equipment Rentals, Emcom Construction, Sure Haul Transportation and BHEX Contracting.
Project construction was also reliant on volunteers with Rotarians donating 126 people-hours and casting 84 blocks to be used as slabs for the ramp.
The project lay dormant over the 2015/16 winter but this April, a sudden window of opportunity opened for construction. B.C. Hydro informed the team of a planned low reservoir period.
This allowed the construction to be completed on the exposed shoreline — allowing a better and deeper installation.
The project, Bott said, could have been expensive and time consuming. But with the support of many in Revelstoke, it happened in an efficient and cost-effective way.
“The willingness of those individuals and companies who could share their time and resources truly was the key to this project that will last for many years to come to help serve recreation to the north on Lake Revelstoke,” Bott said.
“We have a saying we live by in Rotary ‘Service above Self.’ It’s great when a plan like this can come together with so many partners.”
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