If You Build It ...
By Shannon West
Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation
The Urban Lake Fishery Development and Improvement (ULFDI) Program was created to help reverse a trend of declining angler numbers across B.C. Research by the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC (FFSBC) has indicated that one of the best ways to increase angler participation is through the creation of new opportunities for youth to go fishing.
The Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation (HCTF), FFSBC, and the Province are working co-operatively to construct family-friendly fishing sites that don’t require a boat, and that are within easy driving distances of urban centres. This joint venture installs docks and makes site improvements (like wheelchair access) at stocked lakes to allow anglers, young and old, to experience great fishing close to home. The project’s leaders hope to eliminate some of the hurdles that may previously have discouraged families from going fishing.
The Vancouver Island ULFDI Program began in 2009 with seed funding from the HCTF. Through partnerships with local clubs and municipalities, provincial fisheries biologist and project leader Scott Silvestri and his team carefully selected sites that would maximize potential benefits to the angler, while minimizing expenditures. Under Scott’s leadership, seven angling infrastructure projects have been completed on the island, including:
Newly constructed fishing floats, ramps, and trails at Durrance, Diver, and Westwood lakes.
A new fishing float at Mayo Lake.
Repairs to the walkway of the fishing float at Chemainus Lake.
Development of a car-top boat launch at Quennell Lake.
Improvements to the boat launch at Spider Lake.
Response to these improvements has been overwhelmingly positive. The program has received an additional $56,000 from the HCTF, and $10,000 from the FFSBC for 2013-14. This money will be combined with contributions from other partners to fund a number of the following infrastructure proposals:
Construction of wheelchair-accessible fishing dock at Blinkhorn Lake.
Construction of fishing floats at Colwood and Thetis lakes.
Creation of boat launches and fishing docks at Prospect and Echo lakes.
The success of the Vancouver Island program has paved the way for the HCTF and the FFSBC to support similar dock installations in the Thompson-Nicola, Cariboo, and Skeena Regions. Over the past few months, new docks have been constructed at Yellow Lake (between Keremeos and Penticton), Edith Lake (south of Kamloops), and Greeny Lake (north of 100 Mile House). To further attract new anglers, the FFSBC’s popular Learn to Fish programs will use these docks in subsequent years.
The urban lake infrastructure programs are great examples of what can be accomplished through careful planning and co-operative partnerships. If you happen to live in one of the centres where these docks are located, why not give them a try? You might just find a new favourite fishing spot – right in your own backyard.