News Release Archive

Draft EA Issued for Proposed New Campground at Lake Cascade in Idaho

Media Contact: John Redding, (208) 378-5212, jredding@pn.usbr.gov
Steve Dunn, sdunn@pn.usbr.gov

For Release: May 07, 2007

The Bureau of Reclamation has issued a Draft Environmental Assessment for public comment that evaluates the environmental effects of allowing Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation to convert Poison Creek Campground into a day-use facility, and of constructing a new campground on the northwest shore of Lake Cascade near Tamarack Falls Bridge.

Lake Cascade, impounded by Cascade Dam, is on the north fork of the Payette River near Cascade, Idaho.

The new campground would replace camping lost to the proposed future conversion of the Poison Creek campground to a day-use area. Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation has a lease agreement with Reclamation to operate recreation sites as part of Lake Cascade State Park. Converting Poison Creek into a day-use park would reduce the negative impacts and noise due to the ongoing construction of Tamarack Resort.

The proposal calls for the construction of about 50 sites to accommodate tent and RV camping at the new site. This would be an increase in camping options from the Poison Creek campground which has about 38 campsites.

The Draft EA has been prepared to meet the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act. Copies of the Draft EA are available at public libraries located in Boise, Nampa, Caldwell, Cascade, McCall, and Parma, Idaho. The draft EA can be viewed and downloaded at Reclamation's Pacific Northwest Region's website at http://www.usbr.gov/pn/programs/ea/idaho/poisoncreek/index.html.

Written comments on the Draft EA are due by June 4, and should be sent to Bureau of Reclamation, Snake River Area Office, 230 Collins Road, Boise ID 83702, Attention: Steve Dunn or by Email to sdunn@pn.usbr.gov.

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.

Relevant Link:

http://www.usbr.gov/pn/programs/ea/idaho/poisoncreek/index.html