Nearly two months out, cleanup continues at Meadow Lake Provincial Park

By Tyler Marr

Nearly two months after two tornadoes struck Meadow Lake Provincial Park, work continues to repair the damage.

Three people were transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries following the storm on June 29 that flipped trailers and uprooted trees in its wake.

Environment Canada said the northern tornado’s preliminary rating on a scale that measures the intensity of wind damage is an EF1, with wind speeds estimated to be around 135 to 175 kilometres per hour.

The federal agency said the southern tornado was spotted at roughly the same time about 10 kilometres northwest of Goodsoil. That tornado was rated as EF0, with estimated wind speeds of 90 to 130 kilometres per hour.

Park manager Trevor Finlay said work is underway to evaluate tenders for a company to finish the cleanup and salvage the campground.

“Our goal for Murray Doell Campground is to have it open next year, that is best-case scenario,” he said.

After the storm, hundreds were evacuated from the campground, which remains closed.

Finlay, who started in his role in December, said park staff have spent the summer trying to accommodate campers at alternative locations in the park who would typically stay at Murray Doell.

He said staff who were hired to maintain Murray Doell were relocated to other campgrounds to allow them to work over the summer.

“(The biggest thing) has been trying to put together a plan to get the salvage done. It has been best for a lot of staff within the parks system,” he added.

Finlay was not prepared to nail down a firm date to open in 2020 as a lot of work lies ahead to salvage the timber and rehabilitate the infrastructure so it can be safe for campers next season.