In my recent letter to the editor, I stated that “… urgent actions need to be taken by the Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula (MNBP) including banning boat launching except in well advertised designated areas”.
Recently, a Sault St. Marie newspaper reported that Ontario Provincial Police were reminding residents that it is illegal to launch personal boats or watercrafts at public beaches or non-designated boat launches.
https://www.sootoday.com/opp-beat/dont-launch-your-boat-from-the-beach-opp-warn-3858324.
This came after police responded to a complaint regarding individuals launching a watercraft on a beach via all-terrain vehicles and 4x4s. The police warned that anyone boating or jet skiing in a swimming area creating a safety issue for swimmers could face a fine of $430 for operating vessel in a careless manner. Also, parents and youth were advised that no one under the age of 16 is permitted to operate a personal watercraft, regardless of supervision. The operator may face a $125 fine and the owner who allowed the operation may face a $305 fine. The police ended their advice with “…check with your municipality regarding designated boat launches and safe lake access areas.”
The MNBP website provides incomplete and poor information about boat launching sites. A google search using “boat launching sites on the Bruce Peninsula”, provided a better list: Cameron Lake boat launch, Dyers Bay public ramp, Hope Bay public ramp, Johnson Harbour public boat launch and Miller Lake- public ramp. Yet designated boat launch sites on the Bruce County Map ($5.00) identifies the government dock sites: Tobermory, Lion’s Head, Cape Croker Park, and Stokes Bay.
An unknown number of other boat launch sites are privately owned but barriers to public access can be a user fee, no place to park vehicles with a boat trailer, and no information being available to locate these sites.
Some of these boat launch sites are near beaches but many beaches are without nearby boat launch sites.
According to website https://explorethebruce.com/things-to-do/beaches/, the beaches on the Northern Peninsula include: Singing Sands, Lion’s Head, Hope Bay Beach and Black Creek Provincial Park. The MNBP website lists these additional beaches: Indian Head Cove, Little Cove, Howdenvale Beach, Boulder Beach, Bruce Peninsula National Park, Georgian Bay Beach, Side Trail to Rock Beach and Oliphant Beach North.
Except for the National Park beaches, nearby car parks and boat launch sites vary in their availability. If the beaches are to be saved, the Municipality should ensure that all beaches have a boat launching site nearby.
The British Columbia government has published interesting recommendations for Boat Launch Facility Management (Best Management Practices for Boat Launch Construction & Maintenance on Lakes (gov.bc.ca)). This document includes recommendations for private boat launch facilities as well as need for a local boat launch facility policy.
With regards to private boat launch facilities, individuals should consider how frequently the launch will be used. If only a few times each year, use of a public or alternative private launching facilities close by should be used. Using elevated railway-like tracks or a small crane or boat lift is recommended as development, operation and maintenance of boat launches may harm lakeshore habitat areas
With regards to a boat launch facilities policy, the MNBP needs a policy to manage recreational boating demand on Lake Huron, Georgian Bay, inland lakes and larger rivers that will facilitate effective public access while helping to maximize season of use and minimize potential environmental impacts.
The MNBP policy would specify the type of launch facilities required based on the types of watercraft to be supported, available upland space (e.g. for turn-around/parking areas and associated services), signage for appropriate use and identification of sensitive habitats in close proximity to the boat launch area, and use of best management practices to reduce or avoid impacts to the environment during boat launch construction and maintenance.
In summary, the MNBP policy should:
• Improve information about boat launching sites including the MNBP’s webpage, signs on major roads, tourist information brochures, social media and the Bruce County map.
• Require all boat launch sites to have adequate parking for vehicles and boat trailers.
• Erect beach signs banning boat launching and signs telling boaters about close by boat launching sites.
Management of boat launch facilities is a significant action to ‘save the beaches’.
Larry W. Chambers
