Hearing Scheduled On Blackwell Island

The future of Blackwell Island can range from a five-ramp public boat launch with campsites and 170 parking spaces to a single-ramp launch with limited parking and no camping.

The Bureau of Land Management hosts a public meeting tonight for residents to voice their choice for the future of the 32-acre site on the Spokane River south of U.S. Highway 95.

The BLM has developed five alternatives for the site it bought last spring. Tonight’s meeting at 7 p.m. in the Lake City Senior Center at 1916 Lakewood Drive will probably be the last public hearing on the proposals.

During the first public meeting last summer, few residents supported boat launch facilities for the site. Many wanted the wildlifesensitive area left natural.

The Spokane River Association supports the boat launch options to give greater access to the lake.

The main reason the site was acquired was to alleviate congestion at public boat launches, said Eric Thomson, BLM area manager.