South Sask. river access impacted by MVA cuts

The recent cutbacks by the Meewasin Valley Authority will have an impact on how people access the South Saskatchewan River this summer.
 
The river authority is closing the Paradise Beach, Poplar Bluffs and Fred Heal canoe launches as it tries to reduce costs after receiving less funding in the provincial budget.
 
Several programs and three summer positions were also chopped after the MVA saw its funding cut by 17 per cent, creating its most challenging budget in almost four decades.
 
Manager of Community Development Doug Porteous said closing the river access sites means the parking lots will be shut down. The move will save the authority $60,000 a year.
 
“It’s basically equivalent to one person to check on them daily, to check on the garbage and to fix any vandalism,” said Porteous.
 
He noted since the Fred Hill site was on crown land it could re-open should the provincial government decide to pick up the cost.
 
Porteous also brought attention to the lesser-known work of the MVA. He said without their summer students they won’t be able to control invasive plants along the river bank.
 
“If they are not controlled we are going to turn into a desert along the river valley.”