Rio Tinto has awarded Lakes Outdoor Recreation Society (LORS) $46,000 a year for two years and an additional $2,500 to purchase a road counter.

The road counter will be used to assess the number of vehicles visiting the recreational sites. An additional third year of funding may be possible, but it will depend on the number of users and whether Rio Tinto鈥檚 mandate remains focused in a similar vein.

鈥淭here is no guarantee there will be a third year, but for now, it gives us secure funding to plan for 2024. It also allows the society to gather much-needed statistics on the usage of the sites, which will assist us in the future to apply for funding,鈥� President of LORS Garth Schienbein said.

Since 2002, LORS has maintained sites in the Lakes District. Funding is needed to top up the dollars received from the province to pay the wages, upgrades, and supplies to keep the rural sites in good condition.

Schienbein notes that LORS will also receive financial support from Recreation Sites and Trails B.C. (RSTBC), B.C. Parks and other generous contributors.

Schienbein said their contributions cover a sizeable amount of the funding that LORS utilizes for a year, and RSTBC and B.C. Parks provide needed supplies and upgrades as well, when they are able.

He said their current partnership agreement with RSTBC is up this year, and now LORS is looking to sign a new five-year contract to continue the existing commitment.

Schienbein said RSTBC has recently re-designated their underutilized sites as 鈥榰ser-maintained.鈥�

As a result, Knapp, Trout Creek, Moose Lake, and Guyishton will be designated as 鈥榰ser-maintained,鈥� and all campsite infrastructure will be removed from the Opal Bed Campsite. They will now be recognized as trails.

The RSTBC will visit these sites every season.

The directors of LORS have decided to continue to maintain the sites as long as the society is financially able and Rio Tinto鈥檚 funding will allow this to happen.

鈥淚f not maintained the fear is these sites will deteriorate until they disappear. We would like to keep them viable,鈥� Schienbein said.