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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Lake Roosevelt To Be Subject Of Meetings

From Staff Reports

A series of meetings on the future of the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area continues today at Wellpinit.

The National Park Service is seeking public opinion about issues that should be considered as the agency revises its almost 20-year-old plan for managing the recreation area.

Park Service officials say they’ll use the public comments to help draft the alternatives they’ll present this fall for further consideration.

The federal employees have listed some issues they think should be studied, starting with such basics as how much development should occur in the recreation area over the next 20 years.

Another proposal covers the politically sensitive question of how the agency should deal with “enforcement or resolution of encroachment issues.” The Park Service has angered numerous residents of surrounding counties by ordering individuals to remove private docks from the federally owned shoreline.

Other issues suggested for more study include grazing on public lands, whether personal watercraft and “cigarette boats” should be allowed, and the amount of houseboat traffic.

The meetings, from 7-9 p.m., will be: Today at Wellpinit Long House, Thursday at Kettle Falls Interpretive Center, Monday at Republic Elementary School, Tuesday at Nespelem Community Center, July 30 at the Spokane Convention Center, Aug. 4 at the Richland Convention Center, Aug. 5 at the downtown Seattle REI store and Aug. 6 at the Wenatchee National Forest office in Wenatchee.

, DataTimes