Douglas Lake Cattle Company appealing 2018 decision to grant public access to pair of Merritt-area lakes
KAMLOOPS — Nearly two years after the Nicola Valley Fish and Game Club won a historic court case, giving its members public access to two lake they’re facing another battle over the use of two lakes in the Merritt area.
The Douglas Lake Cattle Company is appealing the decision, an appeal hearing that started on Monday over Zoom and resumes on Tuesday, as the company tries to reverse the ruling and regain the private use of Minnie and Stoney Lakes.
For years, public access to the lakes had been blocked by fences and locked gates. The ruling in December 2018 in favour of the fish and game club removed the gates and allowed the public to have access to the lakes. However in Monday’s proceedings, the Douglas Lake Cattle Company argued in order to use the lakes, fishermen have to trespass onto its private property.
The lake levels of both Minnie and Stoney have risen over the years, and Douglas Lake’s lawyer Evan Cooke contended the flooded portion beyond the natural boundaries remains Douglas Lake property. He added a huge amount of land has been taken away without compensation in the amount of about 150 acres following the 2018 decision.