MARION, Ill. — U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provided more clarification Wednesday after an Illinois representative demanded federal accountability and transparency over the decision to drain a local recreational lake.
The department recently announced it would drain Little Grassy Lake in Southern Illinois. The decisions prompted Illinois U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, IL-12, to write a letter to the director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Some of the questions Bost posed to Director Martha Williams in his letter were: why is Little Grassy Lake being drained, and under which authorities is Fish and Wildlife doing so? Were other plans considered before determining draining the lake was the only option? Was there public input? The list goes on.
The peacefulness of the lake might be gone soon, and people still have questions.
“I was hoping there would have been some public meetings once the closure of the campground was announced. We’ve had so many people come through the campground over the summer and into the fall with so many questions and confusion about what’s happening to the lake,” said Alan Shearer.
Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge manager Justin Sexton answered many of the questions regarding Little Grassy Lake’s dewatering for us on Monday, but on Wednesday he took more time to clarify any confusion.
Shearer is the co-director of the Land For Learning Institute. Their contract with the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge at Little Grassy Lake expired. Even though he’s worked on Little Grassy for 16 years, it’s been a second home to him for about 30.
“I was blessed. Yes, it was a great 16 years,” he said.
Reporters interviewed him about the first announcement of the lake’s dewatering, and now he’s happy to hear that Bost is asking questions.
“I don’t think the public fully understands. And I’m not sure if the refuge even knows what level they’re going to put the lake at, because the study hasn’t even been completed,” he said.
Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge Manager Justin Sexton answered many of these questions on Monday, but on Wednesday, he provided further clarification.
Why did they choose dewatering? They were already managing the structural issues on the spillway by a 4-foot reduction.
“So that’s why, like the interim, like you want to lower down halfway, we’re still having to manage it with this 82-year-old outlet structure, 80-year-old outlet work structure that is no longer, in my opinion, and based on our Dam Safety recommendation, the reliability of that is not guaranteed,” Sexton said.
Little Grassy Lake on the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge in Southern Illinois. Refuge manager took time to clarify questions about the lake’s dewatering.
Why wasn’t there public input before the decision to drain the lake? Because it has to do with public safety.
“The National Dam Safety Act, which is a public law, gives us the authority to manage that dam as we see fit, and we have numerous policies that give us that authority,” Sexton said.
Sexton said he understands how people can be confused by the news release, but he doesn’t think there has been any miscommunication. Again, Bost directed his letter to the director of Fish and Wildlife, and he will meet with her tomorrow in Washington to discuss his concerns.
Sexton also emphasized people can still canoe or kayak, bank fish, waterfowl hunt, and hike. Shearer expressed concern that these activities are still allowed with the marina and campgrounds closed, because in his 16 years of experience, they’ve had to do numerous lake rescues.
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