Big horn dam closed to campers and OHV as of July 21 2021

fat tire

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We were out at big horn camping and there is a lot of going’s on. Happening on the crown lands surrounding the dam.
Today I was asked to leave our site down by the river on the lower level as they trans Alta are fencing off the area we have camped on since the mid 90s ..... sad day for sure.
I did talk to a very genuine conservation officer and inquired as to what was happening and how there hasn’t been much in the way of public information on the area considered crown lands and public use.... rumblings and conjecture but no real consultation with Albertans and anyone else who have come to know and love the area......many years cleaning up after others too ,but the love for the big horn is worth the enjoyment of being able to use it.
I didn’t get many answers to my questions for the conservation officer and was disappointed with some of the conversation so I will most likely hear from some of you on here as to what the agenda has been and what the future will hold for big horn.

Today I was told that effective July 21 2021 the big horn area was going to be closed to the public from the entrance of the spillway to the lower flats, this is for the season or foreseeable future as to allow Trans Alta to complete their work in the area around the spillway and fencing off some areas of the flats and upper sites. No camping or OHV allowed until work is completed.(time line was a grey area as answered by the officer).
I did not know this was happening and I still do not know the full scope of work that will transform the area.
Does anyone have more they would want to share.
This is a very news worthy event I would hope global could do a story on how this has transpired and the back story on what changed (on crown land).
Sad day folks.
 

RXN

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This may have something to do with them dumping extra water into the spill ways.
Seen global had a story on the dam and the "dumping of extra water"
 

catalac

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Sounds like its temporary by the article ^^, would be par for the course for a fish cop to be an uniformed dick about it.
 

beetle

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We were out at big horn camping and there is a lot of going’s on. Happening on the crown lands surrounding the dam.
Today I was asked to leave our site down by the river on the lower level as they trans Alta are fencing off the area we have camped on since the mid 90s ..... sad day for sure.
I did talk to a very genuine conservation officer and inquired as to what was happening and how there hasn’t been much in the way of public information on the area considered crown lands and public use.... rumblings and conjecture but no real consultation with Albertans and anyone else who have come to know and love the area......many years cleaning up after others too ,but the love for the big horn is worth the enjoyment of being able to use it.
I didn’t get many answers to my questions for the conservation officer and was disappointed with some of the conversation so I will most likely hear from some of you on here as to what the agenda has been and what the future will hold for big horn.

Today I was told that effective July 21 2021 the big horn area was going to be closed to the public from the entrance of the spillway to the lower flats, this is for the season or foreseeable future as to allow Trans Alta to complete their work in the area around the spillway and fencing off some areas of the flats and upper sites. No camping or OHV allowed until work is completed.(time line was a grey area as answered by the officer).
I did not know this was happening and I still do not know the full scope of work that will transform the area.
Does anyone have more they would want to share.
This is a very news worthy event I would hope global could do a story on how this has transpired and the back story on what changed (on crown land).
Sad day folks.
I talked to a lady in Rockymountain house. She told me it is just closed while they let excess water out of Abraham Lake. It is not a "forever" closure but rather temporary. It could be closed for two days or two weeks. Just until the water levels are back down to where they should be. This is what she told me. I called the provincial office in Rockymountain house. The number I found on the same site that takes you to where you need to go to buy a public lands camping pass
 

beetle

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We were out at big horn camping and there is a lot of going’s on. Happening on the crown lands surrounding the dam.
Today I was asked to leave our site down by the river on the lower level as they trans Alta are fencing off the area we have camped on since the mid 90s ..... sad day for sure.
I did talk to a very genuine conservation officer and inquired as to what was happening and how there hasn’t been much in the way of public information on the area considered crown lands and public use.... rumblings and conjecture but no real consultation with Albertans and anyone else who have come to know and love the area......many years cleaning up after others too ,but the love for the big horn is worth the enjoyment of being able to use it.
I didn’t get many answers to my questions for the conservation officer and was disappointed with some of the conversation so I will most likely hear from some of you on here as to what the agenda has been and what the future will hold for big horn.

Today I was told that effective July 21 2021 the big horn area was going to be closed to the public from the entrance of the spillway to the lower flats, this is for the season or foreseeable future as to allow Trans Alta to complete their work in the area around the spillway and fencing off some areas of the flats and upper sites. No camping or OHV allowed until work is completed.(time line was a grey area as answered by the officer).
I did not know this was happening and I still do not know the full scope of work that will transform the area.
Does anyone have more they would want to share.
This is a very news worthy event I would hope global could do a story on how this has transpired and the back story on what changed (on crown land).
Sad day folks.
I talked to a lady in Rockymountain house. She told me it is just closed while they let excess water out of Abraham Lake. It is not a "forever" closure but rather temporary. It could be closed for two days or two weeks. Just until the water levels are back down to where they should be. This is what she told me. I called the provincial office in Rockymountain house. The number I found on the same site that takes you to where you need to go to buy a public lands camping pass
 
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