The City of Fernie has put in an application to the Ministry of Environment (MOE.) for the construction of a new boat launch on the Elk River. The location is only 20 metres away from the current location. This way the current boat launch can still be used during the construction of the new one. The proposed project has budgeted $60,000 with the majority of the funds coming from the Resort Municipality Initiative fund.
There’s a section of the riverbank that needs to be protected in the proposed area of the new boat launch but the restoration work needs to be approved as it involves in stream work.
“We have, as yet, not received approval from the MOE for the boat launch re-construction,” said Terry Nelson, Senior Engineering Technologist for the City of Fernie. “We have, however, worked all week on the Dogwood Park riverbank restoration, and will begin hauling rip-rap rock on August 19 to be placed on the prepared slopes.
We have ordered the armour flex concrete mats for the new boat launch ramp, and expect them to arrive this week.”
The Section 9 – “Works in and About a Stream” approval is required from MOE before the boat ramp construction can begin to extend deep enough to function at the lowest water levels.
As soon as the city gets approval, the work on the new boat launch will commence.