Hundreds of tubers warned for not having safety gear on Shuswap River

NORTH OKANAGAN – Hundreds of people floating down the popular Shuswap River found themselves stopped and warned by Conservation Officers last summer.

The picturesque river is a hot spot for tubers in the summertime, but statistics from the Conservation Officer Service show many are not taking the proper safety precautions.

A report on last summer’s enforcement activities reveals conservation officers gave out more than 500 warnings to tubers between July and August. It took just four individual days of being on the river to get those numbers.

Most of the warnings were for insufficient safety equipment, such as lifejackets and whistles.

During an Aug. 19 check of safety compliance, conservation officers also rescued two tubers near the Enderby bridge who were unaware of the slow float times and were potentially hypothermic, according to the report.

There was some noticeable improvement in the number of people with lifejackets on during subsequent visits, the report says.

Conservation officers also warned, and in some cases ticketed, boaters for not having safety gear, operators cards and fishing licenses. Waterways checked by the service included Kalamalka Lake, Mara Lake and Sugar Lake. 

Compliance has been an issue on local waterways for years.

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