COVID-19 RIEL BEACH RULES AND REGULATIONS

What kinds of Alberta Campgrounds are allowed to remain open during Covid-19?

• Privately owned and also Municipally owned campgrounds will start to open this spring between early May and early June.
• Seasonal or long term camping accommodation (of 4 weeks or longer) will be allowed.
• Daily/Weekend Campgrounds that are fully serviced may be open if they follow the new AHS rules. Campgrounds with no services may not be able to open.
• It is important to check and contact the Campground to find out if it is open and what prevention measures are in place. It is the decision of the Campground operator if they decide to delay their opening or stay closed during COVID-19. You will need to contact individual campgrounds directly.

NOTE: All Alberta Provincial Park Campgrounds are CLOSED until further notice. To learn more, visit this link: https://bit.ly/AlbertaParksCOVID-19

What you can expect if you go Camping in Spring 2020:

• There will be signs up promoting Covid-19 prevention measures in effect.
• Contact free or minimal contact registration for Check in and out.
• Social and Physical distancing of 2 metres is mandatory.
• You must camp in an RV and use your own functioning toilet, shower, bathroom facilities so you can self isolate.
• RVs must be 30’ away from the nearest RV.
• Campsites (or RVs) must be serviced with a supply of water, Power supply and you must have access to a sewer disposal station.
• No Visitors are allowed at your campsite. No co-mingling of campsites.
• Playgrounds, group camping sites, group firepits, events and gathering places are Closed and Cancelled.
• Shared use facilities like Toilets, Showers, self serve comfort stations are Closed.
• No rentals or use of bicycles, paddle boats, mini golf courses.
• No tenting is allowed.
• Campground staff are not allowed to collect your garbage or recycling- you must use the dumpsters and receptacles provided at the campgrounds.

Only facilities that “offer long-term accommodation for users (greater than four weeks) or where the site is the user’s primary accommodation are being recommended to remain open”, AHS says. “Campgrounds that choose to remain open would be expected to implement strict control measures to prevent COVID-19 spread.”

FIRE & ATV BANS ON GOVERNMENT LAND (at this time of publishing April 15, 2020) there is a FIRE BAN and ATV/OHV Ban in place for Alberta’s Forest Protection Area, as well as Provincial Parks, Crown land and Protected areas. The province is taking measures to reduce the fire risk during the COVID-19 crisis. The Forest Protection Areas affected east of Edmonton are located north of Athabasca, Lac La Biche and Cold Lake. Provincial Parks and Recreation Areas throughout the region are CLOSED and have these bans in place. Exempt from this ban are privately owned and municipally owned land. That means private campgrounds that will open this spring will allow campfires, but you must check www.AlbertaFireBans.ca to know the current conditions in each of the County regions. Note that Lac La Biche County has a complete fire ban as of today, April 15, 2020.