Bear Creek Boat Launch Closed

The Bear Creek Boat Launch located in and adjacent to Bear Creek Provincial Park is now permanently closed.  The Regional District, which has maintained and operated the facility for many years, is announcing the closure now in advance of the upcoming marine season.

Signs have been posted and the boat launch is no longer accessible.   Later this year the infrastructure will be removed and the site will be restored to its natural condition as is required under agreements between the Regional District and adjacent landowners. The Regional District regrets having to close the Bear Creek Boat Launch however, several factors combined in the decision to close the facility.

The Bear Creek Boat Launch is a Central Okanagan West Electoral Area Community Park facility, funded solely by ratepayers within the electoral area.   The shallow water level, continuing sedimentation, and the topography of the lake bed at the current location have combined to make the launch unsuitable for continued use, requiring more than just a simple fix.  Improvement costs for the facility have been estimated in excess of $100,000 including required environmental studies and approvals, professional design and facility construction. Under current best management practices any new marine facility would require the Regional District to address important fisheries and environmental values at this site and any proposed design solutions are prohibitively high for the electoral area ratepayers.  The Regional District also believes it is not fiscally responsible for those ratepayers to make the significant financial commitments required to redesign and construct a new boat launch in the absence of obtaining long term land use agreements.

Central Okanagan West Electoral Area residents that require a boat launch are asked to please use the community boat launch located in Fintry at the end of Fintry Delta Road or in Killiney Beach Community Park on Hodges Road or in Fintry Provincial Park.  Other municipal launching facilities are available across the Central Okanagan offered by the District’s of West Kelowna, Peachland, Lake Country and the City of Kelowna.  Link to map for Boat Launches in the Central Okanagan

Residents with questions or concerns regarding the closure of the Bear Creek Boat Launch may contact the Parks Services office by email at parks@cord.bc.ca or by calling 250-469-6232.