A goal to update Beaver Lake’s master plan by the end of 2016 was announced by the Army Corps of Engineers during the annual Beaver Lake Watershed Symposium on Friday.
Sean Harper, Beaver Lake operations project manager for the Corps, said the master plan has not been updated since 1975.
“The master plan gives us guidance,” Harper said. “We have been talking about doing this for decades.”
The master plan primarily classifies the use of about 10,000 acres of public land around the lake, Harper said. He said land is classified for different uses such as recreation or wildlife management.
Classifications for use of the water’s surface will be added to the new plan, Harper said. Water surface classifications are not found in the current plan.
Water classifications could ban recreation, including boat use, in certain portions of the lake, Harper said. He said it also could require that no-wake boats are used in areas. The other option could be to classify the entire lake as open recreation, which it is currently.
The public will be involved in the process, Harper said. He said public forums on the issue could start as early as January 2015.
“There will be plenty of opportunity for individuals and groups to participate,” Harper said. “We want to cast our net very wide.”
Harper said he expects certain stakeholders will be interested in having a say in the process. For instance, Hobbs State Park, was opened after the 1975 master plan.
Updating the master plan will not change the approval for boat docks, Harper said. He also said it will not look at how the Corps utilizes the flood gates.
Officials will start working on the process to update the plan next month, Harper said. He said the process could take about 18 months.
About 50 people attended the symposium held by the Beaver Watershed Alliance. It is the second year for the full-day event.
John Pennington, the alliance executive director, said the event is a way for everyone from Beaver Lake homeowners to government agencies to come together.
“It is good to share information about the watershed so we can all make the best decisions,” Pennington said. “It is our future, it is our heritage. It is our children’s future.”
Gretchen Fidler of West Fork attended the meeting to learn more about watersheds in the region. She said it is important for everyone to know the issues facing watersheds.
“I think more people need to get involved and learn,” Fidler said. “Knowledge is power.”