By Diana Forster
On July 11, residents gathered at Deka Lake’s Access #8 for the official opening of its boat launch, a project conceived by Deka Lake & District Ratepayers’ Association (DLDRA) many years ago.
The lake’s Access #12 is similarly equipped.
Once only brush, the accesses now have large turnarounds for car and boat, grassy areas with picnic tables, outhouses, and signs recognizing those who funded the project. Funding partners include the Cariboo Regional District (CRD), Deka Lake & District Volunteer Fire Department (DLDVFD), DLDVFD Ladies Auxiliary and Levick Enterprises, with substantial “concrete” from the Ministry of Transportation & Infrastructure (MOTI).
Twenty 6,000-pound concrete slabs, left over from the Coquihalla Highway snow shed roofs, were brought in from Lillooet. Before they could be installed, they had to be filled with concrete so they wouldn’t crack in the winter ice. Then it was on to all the landscaping.
DLDRA president Marty Mahovlich welcomed special guests Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett, CRD Area L Director Brian Coakley and MOTI’s Michelle Schilling, and thanked each for their assistance.
Mahovlich then thanked those whose expertise and hard work had been so crucial: all DLDRA board members; volunteers Steve Colbert, Brian Green, Mike Ramsay and Dan Wiebe; and Durasign, Interior Road Services, Katchmar Construction, United Concrete and Windy Mountain Backhoe.
Each of the special guests then voiced their admiration, before jointly declaring the boat launch open.
Attendees enjoyed refreshments provided by the CRD, the Sayenchuks, and Gail Davis, while the DLDVFD demonstrated their fireboat in operation.
The DLDRA’s next project is “safe swimming areas” at other Deka accesses.
Diana Forster is the Interlakes correspondent.