A large recently fallen tree is fully blocking the Cowichan River about 200 metres upstream of the Holt Creek staircase.
Cowichan Search & Rescue has posted a warning of the hazard to river users, including tubers and kayakers, on its Facebook page.
CSR said the best way to get around the tree, which appears to be a bigleaf maple, is to head “river left” towards the narrower end of the tree, then walk over the log.
Environmental journalist Larry Pynn, who reported the fallen tree to CSR, advised that the water is moving faster on the downstream side of the tree, which can make it more difficult for people to get back into inner tubes.
CSR president Trevor Paterson said there are no plans to remove the tree at this time.
“We’re not allowed to touch it,” he said. “There are concerns about damaging the river with gas from chainsaws and other pollutants so the tree will likely stay in place for nature to deal with."
The tree will not impact operations at Lake Cowichan’s The Tube Shack as most of its customers get out of the river at Little Beach, which is a good distance upstream from the obstacle.
Pynn said the tree is not the only obstacle on this stretch of the Cowichan River.
“Not too far downstream of Sandy Pool is a pre-existing large pile of wood that blocks most of the river,” he said. “The safest option is to proceed ‘river right’ and walk on the gravel shoreline to avoid the wood.”
