NAMPA -- It was great weather to be out on the lake Saturday, but instead, many boating enthusiasts started their day at Karcher Mall.
A protest brought out hundreds of recreators, upset with what they say is the federal government trying to close Lake Lowell. The lake sits on the Deerflat National Wildlife Refuge.
But representatives of the refuge say that's just one of the options, and it's an unlikely one at this point.
The line of trucks, trailers, and boats stretched around Karcher Mall, with a much larger than expected turnout of people who wanted to, in their words, "Save the Lake."
They're upset because they believe the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - which is required by law to develop a Comprehensive Conservation Plan for the lake and refuge by next year - wants to shut down boating, jet-skiing, and other activities on the water.
"This parade shows that this activity, and boating, and other activities on the lake are really a part of this community," said Lane Hilton, who says he boats on the lake often.
"I've been using Lake Lowell since I was seven years old," said Rodney Bean, the co-organizer of the protest. "Now they want to take my lake away from us and restrict our usage. That just doesn't fly for me."
The parade wound through Nampa, and finished at the lake, where refuge managers were holding an open house.
Jennifer Brown-Scott, manager of the Deerflat National Wildlife Refuge, said, "There are folks out there who think we're trying to kick everybody off the refuge."
But she said that's not the case. According to Brown-Scott, they're trying to educate people on the four main options available for their comprehensive plan, which they used the community's input to create. One option would keep recreation use the way it is, one would limit the whole lake to a no-wake zone and two options lie in-between.
"Our primary purpose, as a refuge, is to provide a refuge of breeding grounds for migratory birds and other wildlife," said Brown-Scott.
She added that they're going to put wildlife first, but are heading toward a compromise.
"We really are going to need to find that middle ground of, 'How are we going to find the way to make it best for wildlife, best quality for wildlife-dependent recreation, but then, provide an opportunity for other folks,'" said Brown-Scott.
That may be something everyone in and around the lake can be on board with.
"I think we can share it with the wildlife that's there, and we can work together to make it better for both," said Hilton.
As a refuge, planners at Deerflat are required to put wildlife first. But even more than that, irrigation is the top priority. Bringing water to farmers is why the reservoir was created in the first place, more than a century ago.
If you would like to look at all the plans for yourself, and give input on them, you can click here.
