Environment

in Cultus Lake Park, Environment, Resident Information, Sunnyside Campground

Fire Ban Lifted

The campfire prohibition will be lifted in all regions of the Coastal Fire Centre area including Cultus Lake Park and Sunnyside Campground beginning 12:00 noon, Pacific Daylight Time (PDT), on Tuesday, September 20, 2022.

Other activities which will now be permitted in the Coastal Fire Centre include:
• The use of tiki and similar kinds of torches;
• The use of chimineas; and
• The use of outdoor stoves or other portable campfire apparatus without a Canadian Standards Association (CSA) or Underwriter Laboratories of Canada (ULC) rating.
For detailed information, please refer to the map: http://ow.ly/jUuz50KLGIC

Although the fire danger has declined in the Coastal Fire Centre due to recent rainfall and cooler, more seasonal temperatures, the public is strongly encouraged to continue exercising extreme caution with any campfire. It is the responsibility of the individual to ensure that burning is done in a safe and responsible manner and in accordance with regulations. Before lighting any fire, check with local government authorities to see if any local burning restrictions are in place.

While campfires will be allowed in the Coastal Fire Centre, Category 2 and Category 3 open fires remain prohibited, including the use of fireworks, sky lanterns, burn barrels and burn cages. These restrictions will remain in place until October 28, 2022, or until the order is rescinded.

in Cultus Lake Park, Environment

Milfoil Mat Relocation

Please be advised that a dive team will be shifting the milfoil mats over to new growth areas along the foreshore near the Westside footbridge tomorrow, August 18, 2022, and Monday, August 22, 2022.

Staff request that residents and guests avoid this area while work is being completed.

Should you have any questions, please contact the park office at 604-858-3334 or email [email protected].

in Cultus Lake Park, Environment, Resident Information, Sunnyside Campground

Cultus Lake Park Enacts Campfire Prohibition

Effective Thursday, August 4, 2022, at 12:00 pm, campfires will be prohibited throughout Cultus Lake Park and Sunnyside Campground in alignment with Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development. This prohibition is being enacted to help reduce wildfire risk and protect public safety.

This prohibition will be in place until October 28, 2022, or until the order is rescinded.

The campfire prohibition does not apply to cooking stoves that use gas or propane provided they are CSA or ULC approved, and the height of the flame is less than 15 centimeters.

As per the Cultus Lake Park Burning Conditions, Restrictions, and Fire Ban Bylaw No. 1144, 2019 Schedule A-4, 3.11 use of an open flame during a fire ban will result in a $500 fine.

The Province of British Columbia notes that anyone who lights, fuels or uses an open fire when a fire prohibition is in place or fails to comply with an open fire prohibition may be issued a ticket for $1,150 or, if convicted in court, be fined up to $100,000 and/or sentenced to one year in jail. If the contravention causes or contributes to a wildfire, the person responsible may be subject to a penalty of up to $100,000 and ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.

A poster explaining the different categories of open burning is available online  here.

To report a wildfire, call 1-800-663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cell phone. For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, go to: www.bcwildfire.ca.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Cultus Lake Park office at 604-858-3334 or email [email protected].

in Cultus Lake Park, Cultus Lake Park Board, Development, Environment

Riparian Restoration – Donation of Wood Debris

The City of Chilliwack is currently working on a multi-year project to restore the wildlife habitat along the original alignment of Chilliwack Creek.

The Cultus Lake Park Board donated much of the logs and stumps required for this project, after the foreshore cleanup from the November 2021 flooding events. The large woody debris was mulched into the soil along with invasive plant species, then added to the site. This will increase the natural complexity of the habitat, provide bird perches, and hiding spots for amphibians and small mammals.

The City’s next steps will include planting live-stakes, shrubs, and trees with Squiala First Nation students and community volunteers.

The Cultus Lake Park Board and staff are proud to support the City’s dedication to protecting and preserving our natural habitats for future generations.

in Environment, Resident Information, Sunnyside Campground

Reducing Bear Conflicts

An increased number of bear sightings have been reported throughout Cultus Lake Park and surrounding areas.

You can help reduce potential conflicts with bears by securing attractants and preventing bears from becoming food conditioned. In most calls to the Conservation Officer Services, garbage is identified as the primary attractant.

Residents are encouraged to report any strewn waste throughout public and residential areas to the Cultus Lake Park office, to help keep our community safe and secure. Reports can be made directly on the Cultus Lake Park app. Additionally, you can notify staff by emailing [email protected] or by calling Reception at 604-858-3334.

WildSafeBC highlights the following items and the most common attractants for bears and other wildlife:

Garbage
Pets and pet food
Barbeques
Bird feeders
Fruit trees
Berry bushes
Landscaping
Livestock, apiaries, and feed
Fish and smokehouses

For more information on how you can support reducing wildlife attractants, please visit the WildSafeBC website at https://wildsafebc.com/.

in Cultus Lake Park, Environment, Resident Information, Sunnyside Campground

Waste Management Compliance

There have been multiple bear sightings recently within Cultus Lake Park and Sunnyside Campground.

This notice is to advise residents, campers, and commercial leaseholders to ensure that all waste receptacles are contained and that absolutely no waste is left out. If you have compost, please ensure that containers are secure to reduce odour attractants.

Bylaw Enforcement Officers will be patrolling all areas starting today to seek compliance as per Cultus Lake Park Property Maintenance Bylaw.

Warning tickets will be issued, and phone calls will be made if waste is left unsecured and/or located outside of the lease lot. Infraction tickets will be issued for any noncompliance on this matter.

Should you have any questions, please contact Rachel Litchfield, Corporate Services / Corporate Officer at [email protected].

Wildlife sightings can be reported directly to 1-877-952-7277.

For more information on bears in BC please visit https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/plants-animals-ecosystems/wildlife/human-wildlife-conflict/staying-safe-around-wildlife/bears.

in CLP Committee, Cultus Lake Park, Environment

May is Invasive Species Month – Don’t Let Pets Loose!

May is Invasive Species Action Month! Many invasive species in the Fraser Valley are species that were sold as pets or aquarium plants. Releasing pets or aquarium plants into the wild, can have numerous severe economic, environmental, and human health impacts. Don’t let it loose! Releasing pets in nature is cruel, dangerous to the environment, and illegal. Released pets may starve and not survive, they may outcompete native and endangered species, and change ecosystem structures, and they may carry diseases and parasites which can be transmitted to other native species. Before purchasing a pet, choose it wisely! Consider how long it lives, and how big it will grow. If you want to get rid of a pet, don’t let it use!

Instead, you can:
1) Return it to the place of purchase
2) Rehome your pet
3) Dispose of aquatic plants properly
4) Be kind.

Some common invasive “pet” species in the Fraser Valley include the Red Eared Slider turtle, goldfish, and the American bullfrog. The Red-Eared Slider turtle is an invasive turtle found in BC that was introduced to British Columbia after pet owners released them into the wild. These turtles are a problem because they compete with native turtles for resources and carry diseases that harm endangered Western painted turtles.

in Cultus Lake Park, Environment, Resident Information, Sunnyside Campground

Cougar Sighting at Vance Road

Please be advised of the cougar sighting on the evening of May 26, 2022, near Vance Road. BC Conservation has been informed of the sighting, and is in the process of tracking the cougar.

Ensure to keep your pets leashed at all times, and refrain from leaving them unattended outdoors.

If you see the cougar, please contact BC Conservation at 1-877-952-7277.

Cougar Sighting Poster

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