G-spotter Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 Good News: Deal reached to buy Okanagan's Skaha Bluffs land for provincial park Staff Reporter, The Province Published: Saturday, January 19, 2008 A key piece of hiking mecca Skaha Bluffs in the Okanagan has been purchased through a consortium of the provincial and federal governments and big donors like Mountain Equipment Co-op. The popular rock-climbing area will become the Skaha Bluffs Provincial Park after the $5.25-million deal for 304 hectares of land was reached. The monies included $1.25 million from B.C.'s environment ministry; $2.3 million from the Nature Conservancy of Canada, which is supported by the federal government; and $1.7 million from The Land Conservancy of B.C. The property includes forests, rivers, rugged terrain popular with climbers and grasslands, and is a haven for 15 at-risk species including California bighorn sheep. "I had a chance to hike through the property and see the Skaha Bluffs first-hand last summer," said B.C. Environment Minister Barry Penner in a release. The Land Conservancy executive director Bill Turner was lead negotiator on the purchase, which drew funding support from Mountain Equipment Co-op and its members along with other government and charitable groups. "The successful completion of the campaign could not have happened without support from the climbing community, and the many wildlife and conservation groups and individuals who are dedicated to B.C.'s wildlife," said Turner. Penticton-Okanagan Valley MLA Bill Barisoff said the deal will ensure the area remains a world-class climbing destination and provide an economic boost to the region. With recent purchases for new parks, the province now has 14 per cent of its land base protected. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billcoe Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 Thats fantastic news Drew~! Awesome stuff! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-spotter Posted January 21, 2008 Author Share Posted January 21, 2008 From the CASBC newsletter: BRAESYDE PARKING CLOSED Braesyde parking lot closed on November 4th. It has been used for public and climbers' parking since 1992, thanks to the kindness of the Dunlop family. There is no current alternate access to Skaha that does not involve illegal parking, crossing private land, or both. NEW PARKING & ACCESS (Spring 2008) It will take time to plan and fundraise to create an access road, parking, and other facilities at sublot 18. The Land Conservancy, the Skaha climbing community, and other partners, are working on an interim solution for spring 2008. We'll publish news about this as soon as it's available. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hafilax Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 Terrific news! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmace Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 I thought the bluffs were not private but public but the parking was a problem and or accessing the bluffs was a problem..so if there is still no access what did the folks who did this achieve here? did we buy lot 18 and thats it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-spotter Posted January 21, 2008 Author Share Posted January 21, 2008 We got lot 18 but there's no developed access to it yet -it's an undeveloped lot so they're going to build a road and parking and then it will open. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Off_White Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 If British Columbia and Washington were to jointly secede and form their own country, it would be my favorite nation in the world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-spotter Posted January 21, 2008 Author Share Posted January 21, 2008 Isn't Tenino pretty much Oregon? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmace Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 A 5 and half million dollar undeveloped parking lot seems a tad excessive but I am probably not getting the whole story press release Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Off_White Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 Isn't Tenino pretty much Oregon? Pfft, as an entrepreneur with the requisite asset level I'm a welcome emigrant to Canada right now; I'm sure I could get a green card in the future People's Republic even if they draw the line right at the lower tip of the Puget Sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomZ Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 It is a lot more than just a parking lot. (infact it is NOT the current parking lot / access route at all) It is 304 hectares , about 750 acres of land. Most of which will be preserved as habitat for species at risk (bighorn sheep etc) Part of the deal will be to secure access, but most of the area will not be of any real interest to climbers. http://www.conservancy.bc.ca/news_view.asp?id=818 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmace Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 Right Ya I knew it wasnt the original parking lot..it just seemed all the press releases were very climbing orientated..but I see it has more to do with some park land and wildlife conservation which is great this I found funny though the Skaha Bluffs can continue to be a world-class climbing destination haha ya thats a stretch Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-spotter Posted January 31, 2008 Author Share Posted January 31, 2008 well... they would be if it wasn't for some of those weird barley bolt jobs (2-link chain anchors etc) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.