Extreme weather forces closure of Cultus Lake trails
Posted August 3, 2017 5:13 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
CULTUS LAKE (NEWS 1130) – You won’t be able to use any of the park trails around Cultus Lake this long weekend –they will be closed starting at 9 a.m. Friday.
The local park board says the area is extremely dry, and the decision to close the trails is being made in order to ensure safety. With that in mind, trail entrances will also be barricaded or roped off so people can’t access them.
“Looking at the long term forecast, I recommend closing the trails immediately to reduce any fire risk in the park,” said Fire Chief Warren Mazuren.
“This is a busy time for our area and the weather we are currently experiencing is extremely dry,” adds Cultus Lake Park Board Chair David Renwick. “Any decisions we can make to keep the fire risk low – including closing the trails – have been thoroughly considered and the decision was made with the safety of our community in mind.”
The announcement comes as the district banned the use of gas-fueled cooking appliances in public areas, again, because of dry and extreme weather conditions.
The ban doesn’t apply to residential lots or designated camp sites at the Sunnyside Campground.
“During the summer months, Cultus Lake Park is a very popular place to visit – and over the long weekends, the number of people who visit increases greatly,” says Renwick. “The safety of our community is paramount.”
