Public or private? Court case into accessibility of Douglas Lake re-opens

Jun 16, 2017 | 1:00 PM

MERRITT, B.C. — After a tour of the Douglas Lake area last month and closing arguments, the case into the accessibility around Minnie and Stoney Lakes near Merritt is being re-opened by Supreme Court Justice Joel Groves. 

On May 25, two days after the Nicola Fish and Game club and Douglas Lake Cattle Company toured the property with Groves, club member Rick McGowan said pictures and videos were captured by the Fish and Game Club that is now being accepted as further evidence in the case.

McGowan told CFJC Today the videos and pictures show two different creeks flowing into Stoney Lake. He says this evidence contradicts Douglas Lake’s Joe Gardner who said there were no natural water flowing into the lake.

The Nicola Valley Fish and Game Club has argued Minnie and Stoney Lakes, as public lakes, should be open and accessible to everyone, while the Douglas Lake Cattle Company says they are on private land and fisherman should have to pay to use the lakes.