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Down by the waterside Mail Tribune photos / Bob Pennell Receding water levels at Emigrant Lake have scared away the usual crowd of motorboaters and swimmers, especially on weekdays. Doug Hoxmeier seems to have the lake to himself Thursday when he takes a break on a portable dock that follows the water line. County lake usage starts to fall - along with depth levels By DAMIAN MANN The number of visitors to Jackson County lakes this summer is shrinking along with the water levels. Usage could decline by 30 percent this year as three popular lakes continue to drop because of the drought. This week they were more than half empty, scaring away the usual crowd of motorboaters and swimmers. Jackson County Parks, which manages Emigrant, Howard Prairie and Willow lakes, fears it might have to cut its seasonal staff if usage continues to remain low through mid-August. "We are definitely anticipating that there will be a reduction in revenues from usage fees," said Paul Korbulic, county land use manager. "Back in '94, at the end of the drought, use was down by 60 percent on the lakes," he said. But Korbulic is hoping that the parks system, which has a $2 million annual budget, might suffer only a 30 percent loss in fees this year. But this loss would translate into a need to cut staff. Seasonal workers, many of them college students, would be affected by the cutbacks, he said. During the summer months, there are 23 seasonal workers to augment the nine permanent staff. Emigrant Lake, which is expected to be the size of tiny Agate Lake at summer's end, has already shrunk to 46 percent of normal capacity. Howard Prairie is at 50 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. The Medford Water Commission has just begun releasing water from Willow, which is at 64 percent, and expects the levels to drop rapidly. Parks District Manager Dennis Nicholas said the number of boaters using Emigrant Lake, one of the valley's most popular water destinations, has been down about 30-40 percent. "We've had some real slow days and some real busy days," he said. But the water slide operated by the parks system has continued to remain a popular attraction at Emigrant, said Nicholas. "It's been holding its own." It is one of the largest money-makers for the parks system, generating about $100,000 annually. Long-term camping also has taken a downturn, he said, though the campground did fill up last weekend. Ashland resident Doug Hoxmeier had the north side of the lake, near the dam, all to himself Friday, as he sat on a plastic dock built by the Ashland High School girls crew team. "I come here almost everyday and it's no problem getting to the water," he said, watching his dog swim in the almost deserted lake. When Emigrant is busy, however - particularly on weekends - boaters, skiers, rowers, jet skiers, swimmers, kayakers, wind surfers and parasailers vie for limited space. "Some people think it has become awfully crowded," said Nicholas. "On a busy day, there is a lot of boat traffic." But for now, he thinks the situation is manageable, though he worries about the crowds that would come if the water were at normal levels. Sheila Maher, head coach of the Ashland girls crew team, said, "There are a lot of competing uses. It definitely needs to be managed." So far it hasn't been much of a problem for her team, which practices early in the morning when they bring out two 65-foot boats and a motorized launch. The team uses the lake mostly in the off-season. "We practiced all fall in the snow and sleet," she said. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.