Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Commisioners' request ignored
LINCOLN COUNTY – The Department of the Interior (DOI) has responded to a letter written by Lincoln County Commissioner Rob Coffman concerning public access to Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area.
Coffman’s original letter, dated June 15, implored the National Park Service to further open public access to Lake Roosevelt to aide economic recovery for the area. Camping has remained limited at Lake Roosevelt through the summer, as reported in the July 23 issue of The Times.
The DOI’s response letter, dated July 20 and signed by acting regional director Woody Smeck, cited the three main campground and boat in-campgrounds at Lake Roosevelt as already being opened in accordance with the state’s phased re-opening plan. The letter acknowledged the economic reliance local communities have on visitors to Lake Roosevelt, but didn’t promise any re-openings any time soon.
The closest the response letter got to indicating when further access may be granted to the public came near its end, reading “As staff meet guidelines and reach capabilities, additional access may be possible in the future.”
Coffman said county commissioners are “not planning any further action.”
“We’ve done everything we can do,” he continued, noting that the original letter seemed to be “falling on deaf ears.”
“We’re tired of beating heads against the wall,” Coffman said.
Smeck’s response letter was also forwarded to county commissioners in Lincoln and Stevens counties. Coffman’s original letter was approved by commissioners in Lincoln, Stevens, Ferry and Grant counties, all of whom have land at Lake Roosevelt. Okanogan County also has a sliver in the park, but didn’t correspond with Coffman on his letter.
Drew Lawson is the editor of the Davenport Times. He is a graduate of Eastern Washington University.
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