The newly constructed Morrissey boat launch is officially open ahead of schedule, with the finishing touches to come next week.
Tourism Fernie officials said the boat launch is a high-traffic spot for fly fishing and paddling along the Elk River.
“Elk River infrastructure improvements at key river access sites have been a long time coming and a priority of the Sustainable Tourism Strategy and Tourism Master Plan,” said Jikke Gyorki, Tourism Fernie’s Executive Officer.
“The only official access site on the Elk River is Dogwood Park in Fernie. All other key sites such as Morrissey, Olsen Pit, Hosmer and Elko have never been formalized with land-use agreements and infrastructure.”
The project was funded by $300,000 from the B.C. government in 2021, which prompted more funding from Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC (FFSBC), Columbia Basin Trust (CBT), Elk Valley Resources (EVR, formerly TECK Coal) and the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC.
This was the first of a series of projects coming to sites along the Elk River, with improvements at Dogwood, Olsen Pit, Hosmer and Elko.
“Our next goal with the Morrissey river access site under the Sustainable Tourism Strategy is to expand the parking and amenities by furthering our partnership with the Regional District of East Kootenay under their Regional Parks program,” said Gyorki.
“RDEK Area A Director Thomas McDonald has been extremely supportive and supports seeing BC Parks transfer Morrissey Provincial Park to the Regional District of East Kootenay parks system, which would allow for further Area A improvements to happen.”
The public is asked to be on the lookout for construction workers at the Morrissey boat launch as signs will be installed over the coming days.
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