Information Bulletin

August 6, 2010

Caution advised at provincial boat launches

Water levels vary across Alberta

Edmonton... As water levels continue to vary across the province, the Alberta government encourages people to be careful at provincial boat launches. When water levels are low, vehicles launching boats on trailers could sustain damage.

Visitors should use caution when launching boats at the following provincial boat launches:
- Figure Eight Lake Provincial Recreation Area, near Grimshaw;
- Queen Elizabeth Provincial Park, near Grimshaw;
- Lakeland Provincial Recreation Area - Seibert Lake, near Lac La Biche;
- Rochon Sands Provincial Park, near Stettler; and,
- Saskatoon Island Provincial Park, near Grande Prairie.

Because of the safety risks, it is not recommended that visitors with motorized boats use the boat launch at Thunder Lake Provincial Park near Barrhead at this time. Visitors with small hand-boats may continue to use the boat launch, by hand-launching and walking their boats into deeper water.

Due to higher lake levels and recent improvements, boat launches have reopened to motorized boats at Hilliard’s Bay Provincial Park, near High Prairie; Pigeon Lake Provincial Park, near Wetaskiwin; and Minnow Lake Provincial Recreation Area, near Edson.

There are nearly 500 provincial parks in Alberta, supported by a 2010-11 operating budget of $65.3 million. Since 2004, the province has invested more than $250 million in upgrading and replacing park facilities and infrastructure.

For more information on provincial parks, visit www.albertaparks.ca. To reserve a campsite at one of 50 provincial campgrounds, visit www.reserve.albertaparks.ca.