July 2021

Fire Petition

The information from the Regional District will be mailed out (July 19th) to our home addresses, and is due back to the RDKB by August 18th ay 4pm. As many will be at the lake, the Christina Lake Fire Response (CLFR) will be out on the water to drop off petitions and answer any questions that folks may have.

Evacuation Planning

I have asked about an evacuation plan for Boat Access should the situation arise and more information will be forthcoming. Best plan if there is fire immediately threatening your property is to get in your boat. If an evacuation is happening, both the RCMP and the fire boat will be on the lake to give instructions. The boat launches will be jammed, and there will likely be significant highway congestion, so be prepared with food and water, a full tank of gas and lots of patience.
The RDKB emergency notification system is available here:emergency.rdkb.com

Fire Smart for your property

For those who have been unable to Fire Smart their properties there is a local FireSmart contractor at the lake for hire. Unfortunately, there are no grants available for FireSmarting in BC at this time, so all costs will have to be covered by the homeowner. Roy VanHolst 250-584-6399

Security services

Bud Alcock is offering security services for boat access owners from ice off to ice on, and possibly delivery of supplies twice a week. If you are interested, please contact Bud at gfgovernanceplus@gmail.com

June 2021

Hi All,

Had a chat with our (sort of) new BC Parks Area Supervisor this week, Jonathan Finlay. His contact information is here:

Jonathan Finlay
Area Supervisor East Okanagan
BC Parks | Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy
Telephone: 250-490-8244
Jonathan.Finlay@gov.bc.ca
www.bcparks.ca


Spreading the word, which is also posted as signage at the Texas Point Parking areas, regarding how we can use the parking lot beyond the Provincially legislated 14 day maximum. Reminder that BC Parks is required to enforce this rule and our "exemption" is how Jonathan and his rangers have created some flexibility with how this parking lot will be enforced:

  • BC Parks requires that trailers must be accompanied by a vehicle at all times. Single trailers without vehicles may be subject to towing.

  • Single vehicles are prohibited from parking in the boat trailer lot. Single vehicle parking is only permitted in the gravel lot to the south.

  • Parking is strictly limited to defined parking stalls with in Park.

  • Vehicles and trailers must not occupy a parking stall for more than 14 days.

    • As per Section 17 of the Park Act regulations, except as authorized by a Park Officer, a person must not store, cache, or leave equipment or supplies in a park for a period of more than 14 days in a calendar year. This means, in this parking lot, if you move your vehicle to a new spot, it will be okay.

  • **A Park Officer may authorize to extend beyond the 14 day annual limitation, but only under special circumstances, and conditional to the vehicle and trailer being reasonably relocated within 14-day intervals.

  • Any trailers, boats, or equipment found in contravention of this regulation may be subject to removal and fines.

    • If your trailer has been removed please contact: D&D Service Center & Storage Inc. at 1-855-295-3378 or BC Parks at 1-250-490-8200

 Please know that BC Parks greatly appreciates your understanding as we continue to do our best to working through the parking capacity challenges at Texas Creek during this busy season, and seek to meet the needs of both local property owners as well as park visitors and recreational users.

Jonathan told me that approximately 15 trailers have been towed in the past 2 years. Of those, some did not have valid insurance, one was in the parking lot with a load of garbage for over a month and in conversations with at least half of the other trailer owners, they explained that towing was cheaper than the cost of trailer storage, so they were willing to take their chances.

I encourage everyone to do their best to abide by the rules, as this will ensure that you will be able to park for the season, and that's the result that we are looking for.

May 2021

Spring 2021 Boat Access update

Hello all,

For those lucky enough to be enjoying this long weekend at Christina Lake, I hope you are having a lovely weekend!
The rest of us will hopefully be able to get there soon.

Fire Service Petition


After lots of back and forth, the Regional District has determined that the most efficient way to get this ball rolling is to just go ahead and send out the Petition.
Expect something in the mail in the coming weeks.

The process in simple terms is this:

  • A petition will be mailed to all affected property owners, if you have multiple owners for your property bear in mind that you only get one vote.

  • All petitions must be mailed back to the RDKB within a few weeks (there will be a deadline, likely the end of June).

  • If more than 50% of the owners representing at least 50% of the assessed value vote for the Fire Service, a report will be generated and presented to the RDKB Board of Directors.

  • Bylaws need amending and adopting

  • Implementation for 2022.

Parking at BC Parks Texas Creek Parking lot


We've had a few emails regarding the 2 week maximum stay restriction for parking at Texas Creek.
There was some general miscommunication amongst the BC Parks staff and the operator last year and we have a new BC Parks person this year. I will see what can be done, there had been a promise to resolve this in the past, but it looks like the ball has been dropped again. Stay tuned for that.

Hope everyone has managed to stay safe this past winter, and I know that we are looking forward to some lake time.
The AGM is scheduled for Saturday August 7th at 10am at Chase's Point.
Updates regarding the meeting will be posted on the website and communicated in the newsletter in early July.

Missing Dock


From: Felix and Rhonda Belczyk 250-644-4112

We have a cabin on the boat access side of Christina Lake, across from Texas Point. The walkway for our dock broke its lines over the winter and floated away. We have been actively searching for it and are still feeling hopeful that we will find it. The best case scenario is that someone on the lake found it floating and has brought it to shore.

Currently we are offering a $300 reward for its return.

We have attached a poster and a picture of the walkway. It's 4 feet wide by approximately 20 feet long, made of treated wood, and it's floating on two aluminum pontoons.

Thank you for any assistance you might be able to provide. Please let us know if you have any questions about this request.

September 2020

Fire response and Emergency Response for Boat Access:

Hello All, here is the update on the FIRE BOAT and fire service for you as we wrap up another summer at Christina Lake.  I met with Grace McGregor and Chief Joe Geary in August to discuss the ways in which we can, as the Boat Access property owners, "opt in" for fire coverage at Christina Lake.  

Why?
Today, for boat access properties, emergency responders will only go as far as the boat launches at Larson Road(Marina) and Texas Point. This includes fire, ambulance, but does not include RCMP, who have a boat and will respond to a policing call if they have the boat on the lake at that time. RCMP have typically had one full time position (40 hours per seven days) for 8 weeks or so over the summer.

If we want full access to Emergency response and Fire response, including the fireboat we have two options:

Petition the Regional District for improved Fire and Emergency response service. This is the most inexpensive way to achieve this outcome and would require 51% of Boat Access owners petitioning for this. We will have to work with the Regional District to mail information to owners with directions to an online petition. If the petition were to be successful this year, service would begin in 2022.Second option, we would ask the Regional District to hold a referendum. This is expensive and will involve more steps and will take more time.An application to the Fire Underwriters and Insurance providers for grading changes to the area is being undertaken by the Fire Chief and the Regional District at the moment. The last time this was done was in the 1980’s. 

Currently the new fire boat is being kept at Shulli‘s because this is within the 8 km range of the fire hall that is required. 

How does this help the Boat Access group? Well, we have a little bit of time and a Fire Chief who has a vision.There may be an opportunity to establish a satellite fire station closer to Texas point, and this would get the fire boat to the mid point in the lake, with better access for Boat Access Properties and better coverage for those road access properties on East Lake Drive.

Let me be abundantly clear that this will not happen without a number of obstacles being overcome!Of the two boat launches, the marina is currently not an option, as Dan Powell is currently refusing to fuel the fire boat at the marina. I would urge anyone that has a good relationship with Dan to speak with him about this.  Property would need to be made available for the Satellite fire station, the fire boat and parking for the volunteers. Someone would have to oversee the property. This might be one of the RDKB lots or Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) easements but this requires levels of government cooperation that take time and money.There are requirements that volunteer fire fighters live in the area. Volunteers are trained over the course of months, at a cost to the Fire Department and are offered extended health benefits and other perks for their commitment. If you are trained elsewhere (in your home/winter community) the training is transferable.So we would need a number of local summer residents willing to take on the training and commit to volunteer.Funds would need to be allocated to pay for this, and in Grand Forks where a similar situation existed, the community shuttered their Satellite fire station due to cost.The additional revenue that would be created by including the Boat Access properties would help fund this and make up for the fact that we are currently not contributing at all to the local community fire service.These are not insurmountable obstacles, but will take time, money, and a good deal of pressure from not just our group but the East Lake drive residents to make this a reality. And then ongoing volunteer commitments.Not impossible, after all we got the parking lot built ...


An additional benefit to having a satellite fire station on E. Lake Dr. closer to Texas point, would be that those road access homeowners might also see a reduction in their property insurance due to the improved response classification (known as 3B). This may potentially apply to Boat Access properties if the fire boat could be kept within a kilometre of that satellite station. Again, limitations around seasonality (having volunteers around all year long) may be too much to overcome.

FIRE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE:
Specifically regarding fire, if there is a fire at your cabin, let’s face it, even if you have your own sprinkler system set up, it’s unlikely that the structure will survive. It is difficult even in town for the Fire service to save a structure. At the lake the fire response is about saving lives, the neighbouring structures and the forest adjacent to the cabin that’s on fire, . Wildfire service will respond during daylight hours on a priority basis. So if there are twenty lightning strikes the day before, that burning cabin may be out of luck. 

The Christina Lake fire department is not allowed to respond to boat access properties at the moment. Period. 

Emergency responders (Ambulance) will not go beyond the boat launch, and if you are incapacitated somewhere on the lake, or at your property, you need a responder (Fire) who can come and get you, and bring you to the boat launch where you will be met by the Ambulance Service.

Funding for this will be an additional line item on your annual property assessment. First estimates are that it may cost $70 per $100,000 of assess property value. 

Links to the online petition will be sent out in October. In the meantime, we will work with the Regional District to get a mail out to all Boat Access property owners that will direct them to the petition.

July 2020

July 2020 CLBAS update

Hoping that you are all saying safe and healthy in these times, and managing to enjoy some socially distanced time at the lake.

Our annual AGM for 2020 is cancelled
Next AGM is Saturday August 7th, 2021

We are allowed to defer our AGM until next summer as permitted  under the Societies Act due to the Pandemic. 

Dump Day will also be suspended this year.


Some good news! We have a new fire boat at the lake.
As discussed at last years meeting, in order to ensure that the Boat Access properties are in fact covered by this service, we will have to have a referendum to opt back into the Fire Service.
A 51% majority is required. Twenty years or so ago we were allowed to opt out as there was no boat and the fire department had determined that they would not go past the boat launches. We all know that the volunteer fire department has done an amazing job at the lake, for all property owners in the intervening years, and now we are being asked to help cover the costs associated with these additional resources. Personally, I look at our general demographic, the changing climate and the value added to our properties when we have fire service and consider this to be a worthwhile community service.

Additional cost per property is estimated to be $70 per $100,000 of assessed value. We have requested that  Regional District and Fire Department work on the fire grading process which may reduce insurance costs for our boat access properties. More on that later.

The CLBAS has maybe 40% of the contact emails for boat access property owners. Please take the opportunity this summer to share the news of the fire boat with your neighbours and get them to sign up for our emails which will have more information as the summer unfolds. sign up here: http://www.christinalakeboataccesssociety.com/newsletter

51% of Boat Access owners need to vote YES for this to happen. Let's get the word out.

COVID SAFETY
Please be a good neighbour and community member here at Christina Lake by wearing a mask when entering stores and other facilities, by continuing to wash hands and limit the size of gatherings.

Internet Access: Norm Borg has asked to have his new service shared with the group. Please email Norm at norm@urbanwifi.ca

June 2019

Happy summer! Please plan to attend the AGM (10am Saturday August 10th, Chases Point) this year as we have a few important items to attend to.

With our new Christina Lake fire chief, Joe Geary, there is talk of the lake getting a fire boat. This requires the boat access residents to work with the Regional District as they determine if a referendum is need for us to “opt in” for fire services. About 20 years ago, when there was no longer a fire boat and limited fire services for boat access residents, the boat access residents “opted out” of paying for and receiving fire service. There is a compelling argument for us to request service now, if a fire boat is available to fight fires on the lake and provide the fire department with a Work Safe BC approved transportation vehicle for any emergency that the fire department may be called to assist. Please contact sue.verigin@gmail.com with your comments or questions.

Other updates from BC Parks, the RDKB, the RCMP and special guests - don’t miss it!

August 16th, 2018

Thanks to all who attended the AGM on Saturday! We are able to celebrate the completion of the Texas Creek Parking Lot along with our updated bylaws. Minutes will be circulated in the next while. Enjoy the rest of your summer at the lake.

June 10th 2018

Texas Creek update - work has begun!
Very high water this year, which peaked in early May, have now returned to more normal levels. The lake is down by over 48 inches since the May long weekend.

It is very sad to share the news of Joe Graf's passing this winter. Those who have their boats or trailers at his property or know of neighbours who do, should contact Judith Lloyd, Email:  jujulo@shaw.ca or Home:  250 442 8595 Cell:  250 442 9445

Garbage pick up has begun again, please see the updated information on the web page.

April 4th 2017

Texas Creek Parking lot update:  Construction is scheduled to resume shortly with a completion date of (hopefully) May 19th or thereabouts. As an Association, we have been working for over twenty years to make this happen.  With seed funding from the RDKB (Area “C” rep Grace McGregor), and the cooperation of BC Parks, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure and the encouragement of MLA Linda Larson, we got the go ahead just before our last AGM.

Endless volunteer hours have already gone into making this initiative a reality, and it will be completed by summer due to the boundless energy of Peter Bowen (CLBAS member), who is coordinating and cajoling local private contractors to help with this community initiative. The addition of this parking area and the refit of the existing parking area will increase vehicle with trailer spots from 25 to 81 and vehicle only spots from 33 to 60.

We are still collecting funds to ensure that we complete this project in the next few months, so donate generously! Go to the Texas Creek page and you will find the link at the bottom, thanks!

June 12th, 2016

Another May long weekend has come and gone and the new season at the lake is upon us.
Here are a few updates:

Dump Day - August 13th- Grant in aid received!
We have received our $400 Grant in aid from the RDKB, and Area "C" Director Grace McGregor.  Many Thanks for supporting this annual event! The cost of two dumpsters delivered and taken away, along with transfer station fees is typically close to $900, so the grant in aid goes a long way to help support this event.

News:
Over the winter, two long time and valued members of our community passed away.  Jean Buchanan was our long time CLBAS Treasurer, and Don Nelson recently in the CLBAS co-presidents post. I, personally, will miss them both for their humour and wisdom, and their strong commitment to our community.

Volunteers needed!
The Provincial Government has updated the rules governing the Societies Act. And while we review the new requirements, our Constitution and Bylaws are also due for an update.  Those of you in our Boat Access community who might like to take on this challenge, please contact Janet Saare at saarejm@yahoo.com.

We have a Web Page now! www.christinalakeboataccesssociety.com  
And now that I have set it up, I need a volunteer to take on the administration. We are using Squarespace, probably the friendliest and best supported web design platform out there, and if I can figure it out, I know you can help! Contact sue.verigin@gmail.com

Dump Day volunteers: Please consider spending two hours at the Larson road (marina) boat launch this Saturday August 13th from 8:30-10:30, helping to supervise this popular event.  Contact sue.verigin@gmail.com

Looking Forward to seeing everyone at the AGM Saturday August 6th at 10am, location Crittenden's property, 3060 West Boat Access, across from the Marina, at the Chase's Point sign.

Texas Creek Parking Lot Expansion:  BC Parks collected usage data last summer and designed a parking lot which would address the capacity issues, which they presented to us in December. Those designs doubled the existing lots and came with a minimum $175,000 price tag (the maximum was over $200,000 and Parks was also going to pave at a cost to them of $100,000). We then requested a parking lot that fit the smaller budget and scale originally discussed and that we might be able to achieve.  In February we agreed in principle on a design and are still waiting for the final design and materials list from BC Parks. We have also requested that Parks complete the various assessments (environmental, first nations, archeological, etc.) as soon as possible.  Peter Bowen has been rounding up the equipment, volunteer and cash donations that we need to achieve the completion of this project, kudos to Peter for all the work he has done so far!  If you would like to donate to this project, please contact Peter Bowen at: cpbowen@telus.net

Christina Lake Marina: (from Dan Powell) May 30,2016

We will not be offering groceries, newspapers, propane re-certification, and will stock only the basic sundries, sunscreen, etc.

The water taxi rates and reservation policy will change as we will have less staff to facilitate taxi service for walk up customers. 

Drinks, snacks, candy & ice cream will still be available and the Marina Grill will remain open July & August. 

The breakwater will get straightened and double or triple web screening and some bigger reflectors; I have just started this finally and ran out of time with the May long; it still needs a couple of days work before I re-submit.

Garbage schedule:

The schedule is pretty much the same as last year...slight change in the hours ... but same days of the week.
As has been provided in previous years, Garbage tags are $3 each, Recycling is free.
(I would also note that single garbage bags will be charged $4 at the Christina Lake Waste Transfer Station)

RDKB Garbage Tags can be purchased from the following locations:

Huckleberry Mountain Market
Christina Lake Solid Waste Transfer Station
Kettle Valley Waste drivers on location
Christina Lake Marina (Larson Rd.)
Christina Lake Welcome Centre (to be confirmed)

The following is a quick list of what is acceptable in the recycling program:

Cardboard and boxboard
All paper products (except tissue paper/hand towels etc)
Tin cans
Rigid plastic packaging containers (no plastic toys/lawn chairs etc)
Tetra packs

Not accepted:

* refundable beverage containers, (please return to retailer or Grand Forks Bottle Depot)* glass containers, film plastic (plastic bags), Styrofoam – there are bins at the Christina Lake Waste Transfer Station and Grand Forks Landfill that will accept these materials
* appliances, tires, used oil, use oil containers, light bulbs, televisions, computers etc.  – Call the BC Recycling Hotline to find out where to return these and lots other materials for recycling – 1.800.667.4321
* Furniture or large/bulky items
* Construction & Demolition debris
* Yard and Garden Waste/Wood

View more information at www.rdkb.com

March 24th, 2016

Happy Easter!

Quite a bit has happened over the past few months, see below for updates:

Texas Creek Parking Lot:  BC Parks is finalizing a design and budget for a 50 car parking facility at Texas Creek.  Peter Bowen continues to champion this project and we are hopeful to complete by this fall.

Wave Attenuator:   I take full responsibility for the communication confusion over this matter.  After much discussion during the past six months with Dan, the RDKB, Land Office, CLWPOA, it boils down to this:  Dan has been asked by the Land Office to submit the paperwork and fee for an amendment to the wave attenuator structure.  Dan was approved to build a new cedar log boom, but chose to recycle the old wharf and now needs to submit an amendment that shows the as-built structure.  

I have been very clear with the Land Office that I have no mandate from the CLBAS membership regarding this issue.  
I speak only for myself.

In my conversations with the Land Office and the RDBK and others, I have maintained that the wave attenuator structure is needed, as it provides needed protection. I raised concerns that it should be made more visible for both daytime and night-time, that safety issues (old hardware, rotten logs, and shifting anchors) be addressed, and that the aging structure should be "tidied up" to look more like the existing wharf and marina .  

The CLWPOA (Christina Lake Waterfront Property Owners Association) sent a letter to the Land Office in support of Dan, and in support of these improvements, suggesting that these improvements be made along with submission of the amendment and fee .  

Dan has been asked by the Land Office to comply or risks having to remove the structure.  I would urge members to speak with Dan about submitting the required paperwork and fee, and complete the improvements the community has asked for.

Marina: Dan will be the sole owner/operator this year and has not made any commitments to its operations schedule so far.