NAMPA -- Lake Lowell was a little busier than normal Saturday.
An estimated 100 boaters, hunters, farmers, and government officials, including Senator Mike Crapo gathered at the lake to voice their concerns that power-boating and other activities could be banned from the lake.
"I can't say that I've seen an issue in Idaho that has generated stronger interest and concern from the public," said Crapo.
It all started in 1997 when the Refuge Improvement Act was passed. The act requires all National Wildlife Refuges, like Deerflat National Wildlife Refuge at Lake Lowell, to develop a Comprehensive Conservation Plan by 2012. That plan would guide decisions about wildlife, recreation, and irrigation for the refuge for the next 15 years.
"I believe that recreational boating, and the other multiple uses that so many people in this area have come to enjoy and participate in, are entirely consistent with and supportive of the wildlife and the other environmental purposes for which the legislation requires us to evaluate the management of Lake Lowell," Crapo said.
But many worry that the plan could put an end to mixed use of the lake, specifically doing away with power boats and irrigation.
Jet boater Jeff Schlagel is one of them.
"It's an economical resource for the county and the cities around here," Schlagel said. "People have grown up using it, and multiple use I think is essential."
A local farmer, Jim Brown, is also worried that use of the lake will be restricted or banned.
"Twenty-five to 30 acre feet of that water is mine," Brown said. "And I paid for it, bought and paid for. And anybody that wants to boat on that, they can do it."
Others, like William Scott, who lives on the lake, said there's nothing to get too excited about yet.
"I've just heard too many rumors being spread about everything being shutdown on the lake, boating of all kinds and any activities whatsoever," Scott said. "I just hate to see people getting the wrong ideas about things, and not understanding the process, and realizing that it's a National Wildlife Refuge."
"I think there's been some misinformation out there," said Jennifer Brown-Scott, the refuge manager. "Some folks think that we've already completed the plan, and made decisions about anything, and we haven't. We're at the very beginning of the process. We're just trying to get folks involved, and find out what types of issues they'd like us to take on in the planning process and have them help us figure out solutions."
Once again, no plan is in place, and it is still in the comments phase of the process. But concerns are clearly already very high.
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