Milburn Lake Public Access

The state of the public access at Milburn Lake has been a source of concern for at least the last 20 years. Every year during the spring freshet, the access area floods to a greater or lesser degree thereby restricting the public's use of the area. All public access sites in BC are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. In 2013 a petition was presented to MoTI staff in Quesnel asking that action be taken to prevent the annual flooding. In April of 2020 the flood was particularly bad, overflowing Milburn Lake Road, eroding the road shoulder and flooding three adjacent properties. As a result the CRD issued evacuation orders on the properties. MoTI continued to do nothing. Finally in September of 2022, after Bouchie Lake Watershed Stewardship Society sent a letter directly to the Minister, MoTI imported 1250m3 of gravel onto the site, hoping to prevent further flooding of Milburn Lake Road, but stopping short of preventing further flooding of the access area.

In 2018 BLWSS commissioned the Milburn Lake Public Access Improvement Plan. The plan was completed by Quesnel River Environmental of Quesnel and laid out the foundation for raising the level of the access area and designating specific areas for parking, boat launching and public recreation area. The site is ideal for picnicking and swimming access.

Future flood prevention will hinge on the enlargement of the overflow culvert, currently only 900mm diameter. MoTI has commissioned and received a Hydrotechnical Assessment of the situation. BLWSS continues to lobby for action to be undertaken.

In the meantime BLWSS continues to work towards improving the landscaping of the area. In the event that MoTI continues to do nothing to improve the site, BLWSS has made numerous applications for a permit to carry out the work themselves. Currently a revised application is before MoTI which BLWSS believes satisfies all earlier objections. When such a permit is finally granted, BLWSS will pursue the funding to carry out the improvements to the site for the benefit of the community that use the site for recreation.