Delegation Encourages Lake Lowell Comments

Washington, D.C.  - Members of the Idaho Congressional Delegation are calling on Idahoans to offer their comments before May 15regarding management changes at Lake Lowell and the Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge south of Nampa.  The U.S Fish and Wildlife Service is in the final stages of creating a new comprehensive management plan for the refuge at a time when some users are concerned about restrictions on recreation at the lake, a popular recreation area in Southwest Idaho. 

"We thank those that have made comments up to this point because your collective voices are making a difference and are very important to this process. We urge everyone to continue these efforts until a final decision is made," said Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch and Congressman Raúl Labrador.  "We note that the economic benefits of motorized boating, hunting, swimming, irrigation and fishing have co-existed well with habitat and other environmental uses of the reservoir over the years.  It is important federal decision-makers take all of those factors into account as they finalize any changes in the multiple use of Lake Lowell and at Deer Flat."

Public comments on the lake and refuge plans are due by May 15, 2013.