More boat launches needed on Bow and Elbow rivers, says user group

More boat launches are needed along the Bow and Elbow rivers to allow safe and easy access, says a newly formed user group.

There were five launch points along the rivers in the mid-1980s, Calgary River Users Alliance director Peter Crowe-Swords told the Calgary Eyeopener, compared to just a single one today.

"Population of the city at that time was in the 500,000 to 600,000 [range] and now we're almost double that with, in reality, only one trailer boat access at Fish Creek,which is not a city boat launch,"he said.

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Closure of the boat launch at Graves Bridge which crosses the Bow River at Glenmore Trail is one of the group's biggest concerns, specifically for fly-fisherman,"said Crowe-Swords.

"The issues are now that one has been closed down, or maybe closed permanently, next year, what alternatives do we have?"

2013 floodchanged riverbottom

Massive flooding in 2013 made the Graves Bridge boat launch unsafe.

"The amount of water which came down through the river at that time changed the river bottom," he said.

"There's probably been an extra three or four feet of gravel placed right across a gravel bar upstream from the bridge itself and that has impacted the potential for long-term access."

Notice of motion coming

On Monday, Couns. Shane Keating and Gian-Carlo Carra will table a notice of motion asking the city to look at creating more launch points along the Bow and Elbow rivers and consult with user groups, a move whichCrowe-Swords applauds.

"We put into our position statement to look at a river recreational management program," he said.

"Edmonton has one in place, we feel there's a need for one here. The motion to council I think addresses that."

With files from the Calgary Eyeopener