Provincial Park Safety

Excellent signage at the Lac Le Jeune park! Thanks for keeping everyone safe. 

News Release: BC Parks Closed Until Further Notice

BC Parks Response to COVID-19 

Updated April 8, 2020

Full BC Parks System Closure

• Order of the Executive Director [PDF]

Lac Le Jeune Park
Photo by Jacquie Brugger

BC Parks is immediately closing the entire BC Parks system, including all parks, protected areas, conservancies, recreation areas, and ecological reserves. All camping (front and backcountry) is now banned until May 31st, 2020. This action is being taken in response to the call for increased action to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the desire of the public to get outdoors, many parks have already experienced peak season levels of use that have resulted in overwhelmed parking lots, trails and trailheads, making physical distancing difficult, if not impossible in some locations. It has also resulted in damage to our facilities and the environment.

This closure is also necessary to ensure the continued health and safety of our visitors, employees, park operators and their staff, volunteers, and park contractors. By taking this action, we align with federal and provincial directives for people to stay home to reduce COVID-19 transmission risk.

This temporary measure means public and vehicle access is prohibited until further notice. All trails, roads, day-use areas, beaches, lakes, boat launches, and backcountry areas are closed to the public. Park closures will be enforced through regular monitoring and patrols and anyone found in a closed park will be evicted and could face a $115 fine.

In addition to the full system closure, the campground closure has been extended to May 31st, 2020. Full refunds will continue to be provided to those with existing reservations during this time. The Discover Camping reservation system has been suspended for all new reservations. A public notice will be issued once facilities are reopened and the system is able to accept new reservations.

BC Parks continues to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic closely and is following the recommendations set out by the Provincial Health Officer and the Minister of Health for decisions related to closure and reopening of parks and facilities.

Please continue to check the BC Parks website for updates.

BC Parks COVID-19 Questions and Answers: bcparks.ca/covid-19/questions-answers/

Media Release: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020ENV0014-000553

For more COVID-19 information, visit the BC Centre for Disease Control: BCCDC: http://covid-19.bccdc.ca/

Provincial Health Officer and Ministry of Health News: https://news.gov.bc.ca/ministries/health

Reminder about snowmobiling around Lac Le Jeune

Snowmobile tracks in the park

Snowmobiles are not allowed in any Provincial Park. They are not allowed on public roads either. In our area they are not allowed on the Gus Johnston Trail or the Stake Lake Trails.

The fine for diving snowmobiles in these areas is a minimum of $575.00. Please ensure your friends, relatives or renters are aware of this law when they are here. Thanks you!

~ Jacquie Brugger ~
A disappointed snowshoe and cross country ski enthusiast with no trails to enjoy

Report from Michelle Wiebe, BC Parks

Here is an update from Michelle Wiebe on activities related to BC Parks and Lac Le Jeune.

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Hi All!

I hope everyone is having a great summer this year despite the weather that seems to be all over the place!

I have spent quite a bit of time in Lac Le Jeune this year - particularly in the last couple of weeks - as you will see in the attachment.

Despite Sylvia Currie inviting me to the 2016 LLJ AGM awhile ago, I am unable to attend - I apologize for missing it again. 

I am including a summary of the highlights of the projects BC Parks has been working on in 2016 - please see attached PDF.

I hope your meeting is productive and fun for all of those attend - I will be there in spirit!

Much appreciated,

Michelle

Area Supervisor                      

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Southern Rivers Area               Thompson-Cariboo Region    

Ministry of Environment           BC Parks & Conservation Officer Service

1259 Dalhousie Drive                Kamloops, BC, V2C 5Z5

Office: 250-371-6286              Cell: 250-319-7267       Fax: 250-828-4000

Email: Michelle.Wiebe@gov.bc.ca

Hello from BC Parks

Hello from BC Parks:

Hello everyone - with only 4 days left until Spring officially begins, we all wake up to fluffy snowflakes falling!  Just a gentle reminder that winter is not yet over.

I want to remind everyone of the post I placed on the Lac Le Jeune blog on February 12, 2016 regarding some upcoming FireSmart activities with the Kamloops Zone staff (BC Wildfire Service) in the vicinity of Lookout Road (southwest corner of the provincial park) - please go to this post for a summary.

I just spoke with the Kamloops Zone and they are planning on starting the FireSmart activities in a week or two - beginning with the falling of some dead standing trees.  To reduce any potential fire hazards, they intend to reduce the amount of dead timber in the area by falling and burning (in piles).  Their intention is to spend just a few days on-site as soon as possible - and will make sure to minimize noise and potential smoke from their activities.

Again, like my previous post, please contact me if you would like to discuss further.  The Kamloops Zone staff ensure me this is a little project that will have big impact (in regards to creating more of a buffer between the park boundary and the private property residences along Lookout Road).

Thank you - and Welcome Spring!
Michelle Wiebe
Area Supervisor - Thompson Southern Rivers area
BC Parks - Ministry of Environment
Kamloops office
Phone: 250-371-6286
Email: Michelle.Wiebe@gov.bc.ca

Update from Michelle Wiebe, Area Supervisor - BC Parks (Southern Rivers Area)

Hello All!

Thank you to Sylvia Currie and Corinne Schock for inviting me to participate in the Lac Le Jeune Community blog. I believe this will be a great opportunity for me, on behalf of BC Parks, to communicate with the residents in continuing to have an open dialogue in regards to the management of the provincial park.

As you may recall, on September 10, 2015, Sylvia posted a document on the blog I was to present at the LLJ Conservation Association Annual General Meeting.  Since then, I have continued to have conversations with some of you and have made some progress on a few of the items I listed.

FireSmart:
With ongoing conversations with some in the LLJ community, there is an interest to move towards implementing some "FireSmart" principles - particularly in the southwest portion of the park (across the lake from the developed campground).

On February 10, 2016 a Facebook post highlighted some progress the BC Wildfire Service(BCWS) is having in an area of the province with a similar arrangement (provincial park adjacent to private property) - see the link at http://bcwildfire.ca/hprScripts/WildfireNews/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=2579

I have had several meeting with the Kamloops Fire Centre staff (the Kamloops portion of the BCWS) regarding implementing FireSmart principles in this portion of the park for this upcoming field season - depending on the weather (and other BCWS factors) they are anticipating conducting burning activities as early as possible - March 2016 is possible.  Their intent is to minimize any potential risk of fire spreading to the adjacent neighbours should a fire happen to initiate in this part of the provincial park - and implementing FireSmart activities at the time of year that will be the least disruptive to the community and/or users of the park.  I will be working closely with the BCWS so please contact me if you have any questions.

I hope everyone is having a great February and getting outside as much as possible for some "natural therapy."

Thank you again Sylvie and Corinne.

Michelle Wiebe, Area Supervisor - BC Parks (Southern Rivers Area)

Introduction by Michelle Wiebe, BC Parks

At the LLJ Conservation Association Annual General Meeting, a number of guests were invited to speak about special projects and issues. Michelle Wiebe, BC Parks Area Supervisor for the Thompson Southern Rivers, was unable to attend in person, but prepared this update for us. As Michelle mentions in the report, she will continue to provide us updates through the blog. Much appreciated!