Morice Land and Resource Management Plan
Recommendations to the LRMP Table
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Recommendations to the LRMP TableRecommendation – Identify the short trails, and potential sites for short trails, adjacent to forestry campsites in the southwest part of the Morice for strict management by all resource users. Recommendation – Identify the portage route required between Nanika Lake and Kidprice Lake along the Nanika River for strict management of all resource users. Recommendation – Identify the portage route required along the Nanika River between Kidprice Lake and Morice Lake for strict management of all resource users. Recommendation – Identify the portage route required along the Twinkle Needles Lakes system for strict management of all resource users. Recommendation – Identify the main hiking routes to the key hiking areas, e.g. Nadina Mountain, Telkwa Mountain meadows, Owen Hill and Mt. Sweeny for strict management of all resource users. Recommendation – For strict management of all resource users, identify hiking routes to the key potential hiking areas in the headwaters of Morice Lake, Nanika Lake and Tahtsa areas. Recommendation – Identify key road accesses for recreation activities, and recommend that they not be de-activated if other resource use activities stop. Recommendation – Identify and reserve potential high quality sites for lodges adjacent to key canoeing areas and backcountry huts in key backcountry areas similar to the one in the Telkwa Range. Recommendation – Assist with the identification of mechanisms to flow resources to marketing the Morice for wilderness vehicle camping, chain-lake canoeing and backcountry hiking. House BoatingOverviewBritish Columbia boasts one of North America’s largest house boating destinations in the Shuswap Region. This is due to the fact that the lake is located within an ideal vacation destination between Vancouver and Calgary on the Trans-Canada Highway, and within short proximity to Kamloops and Kelowna. Shuswap Lake has a tremendous amount of shoreline with secluded, safe mooring, beaches. M  ost importantly, a number of houseboat manufacturers developed in the Shuswap including Twin Anchors and Three Buoys, both implementing creative timeshare and ownership programs for the houseboats that they build and moor in Shuswap Lake.
B Twin Anchors Houseboating, Sushwap, BC uilding a successful house boating operation should be considered within the same development scope as building a ski resort or golf resort. The investment for the development is similar, as is the customer spending magnitudes, whether that be buying into a timeshare program, or simply booking a rental. Such a formula for success has been repeated at a few locations in southern BC, but has yet to catch on in central and northern BC. Due to the vastness of the very large lakes in the Morice area coupled with the spectacular landscape, fishing and other outdoor activities, house boating could be a prime attraction for destination visitors to the region. However, investors seeking the potential for vibrant houseboat rentals require a number of key factors in order to be interested in investing:
Avid house boaters consider a marina as an important component of their experience, offering a level of comfort with supplies and visitor amenities. Often guided lake tours for small groups become an ancillary opportunity as well. A houseboat will cost about $200,000. Considering that the house boating season in North America exists May through to September 1, with the prime season from mid July to the beginning of August, business planning, pricing, services and marketing have to be standardized to fit this seasonal operating period. Therefore, an operation in the Morice area would have to prove a profit within a short season. The potential of house boating is directly linked to locations along the lake where boats could be landed and where self-guided land excursions would be available to visitors. Such landing areas would have to be safe and well marked, perhaps with a picnic area. Maintenance of the landing areas would have to take place along with a training program in order for visitors to pilot the vessels. Opportunity AnalysisThe only community in the Morice Region capable of providing the core services required for a houseboat operation and marina would be Granisle on Babine Lake. It is here that sewage facilities could be maintained. Six average size luxury houseboats at half capacity could mean upwards of 2000 visitor nights. It should be assumed that it would take at least four years to reach that magnitude. A houseboat rental with a timeshare option would have to be combined with a quality marina development in order to remain competitive within the marketplace. The Houseboat industry has become fine tuned with regards to offering bigger and more luxurious houseboats, which are energy efficient as a response to consumers who have wanted luxury but are also price savvy. Babine Lake would provide a large enough body of water that would make excursions inviting to visitors. Babine Lake is also a viable lake for house boating as it has access to a sanitary dumping station at Granisle. House boating would have to be linked to fishing and wildlife viewing which would lend itself to guided houseboat tours of Babine Lake. A houseboat rental business, in conjunction with a marina operation, could be dovetailed with a vacation cabin development. Timesharing could be handled through a property management company offering maintenance services. Other lakes are possible if they have the landing areas, sewage station and marina. As a destination attraction and getaway timeshare investors should be targeted in Edmonton, Vancouver and Seattle if marketing took place within national Houseboat Rental Publications and through a four-season destination marketing initiative, perhaps in conjunction with the Ski Resort in Smithers. To a lesser degree, retirees in the northern communities would be targeted as well. Download 1.06 Mb. Share with your friends:
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