A draft redevelopment plan for the lower Kananaskis River and Barrier Lake aims to turn the area into a water sports mecca.
The draft document, out for public consultation until Oct. 27, calls for construction of a whitewater training facility at Canoe Meadows and a water sports equipment rental hut at Barrier Lake.
Alberta Parks officials say these and other upgrades will address concerns regarding user conflict, traffic congestion and ecological impacts, noting the area is becoming more and more popular with visitors, but also vital for wildlife movement.
Sarah Elmeligi, Parks Facility Planner for Alberta Environment and Parks, said the new plan accounts for a diversity of river users, from whitewater paddlers to river surfing, a sport that has been growing in popularity.
“One of the principles of the plan is to account for diversity of uses that are occurring on the river because it’s not just whitewater paddling anymore,” said Elmeligi.
“Part of the vision is this idea of a world-class water recreation destination.”
Alberta Parks is proposing to redevelop several day use areas and a group campsite along Highway 40 from Canoe Meadows to Barrier Lake, including parking lot expansion, upgrades to Canoe Meadows campground and improved water access.
The first of three new development proposals for the area is construction and operation of a whitewater training facility at Canoe Meadows, to be run by a private operator.
The draft plan also calls for a sports gear rental hut at Barrier Lake which would go through a request for proposal process. There would be on-site rental of kayaks, canoes, standup paddleboards and other gear.
Elmeligi said the whitewater training facility would serve athletes training on the river’s slalom course as well as become a hub for special events in the area. With no new water licences or power to the area, it would be an off-the-grid facility.
She said the Kananaskis River is popular for many reasons, particularly because it is available year-round.
“One of the reasons it’s become so popular as a whitewater destination is that you know when the river’s going to be turned on, you know how high it’s going to be, you know hard it’s going be,” said Elmeligi.
“If we really would like to establish the area as a world-class training destination, then having some kind of building where athletes can gather and train and be warm in winter is pretty important.”
At Canoe Meadows, the draft redevelopment plan would see several tent pads along the eastern forest of the meadow and three rustic “comfort camping” stations, for example, as A-frame buildings.
The plan also calls for a new change room and gear drying racks.
“The idea is the Canoe Meadows area would be a whitewater paddling hangout in Kananaskis, with a variety of camping options and a training facility,” said Elmeligi.
The Alberta Whitewater Association, which took over operation of the campground at Canoe Meadows approximately four years ago, wants to continue doing so. The group has invested more than $2 million into the area.
“We are supportive of the overall concept, but the devil is always in the details,” said Chuck Lee, Alberta Whitewater Association’s executive director.
Over the past 30 years, Lee said the Alberta Whitewater Association has worked hard to make the lower Kananaskis River a whitewater mecca.
“It has become the whitewater centre for Alberta sports. If you want to go canoeing and kayaking and are looking for a place, the Kananaskis River is the bedrock of that,” he said, noting about 50,000 people a year raft, canoe or kayak there.
“It’s been a really big success story.”
At Widowmaker day use area, a new road and turn-around with formalized river access for commercial raft tours will be built. This put-in will be located just upstream of the Widowmaker feature.
The plan designates a new “surf zone” along the lower Kananaskis River to make other river users aware of where surf waves are located and where surfers might be recreating. A new river surfer staging area with a heated change room and surfboard racks at the Kananaskis Visitor Centre area is planned.
Instructions for providing written or online comments are available at: www.albertaparks.ca/consult. Comments will be collected until Oct. 27.
