A FWP Commission public hearing will be held on proposed new boating rules for Echo Lake on February 19, beginning at 7 p.m., at the Hampton Inn at 1140 Highway 2 west in Kalispell. The FWP Commission is proposing rule amendments based on the three petitions received from the public to change boating regulations on Echo Lake. The proposed amendments include:

• establishing Echo Lake, Abbott Lake and Peterson Lake as a no wake zone during high water as described as a water level of 5 feet or less from the survey pin located on the deck of Causeway Bridge;
• designating the Causeway Bay as a no-wake zone year round; and
• banning the use of boat wake enhancing equipment on Echo Lake. Wake enhancing equipment is designed to create a larger wake often used for surfing and wake boarding.

Echo Lake water levels have been exceptionally high during the past few years.

Petitioners proposed these rule changes mainly in the interests of shoreline erosion, property damage and user conflicts.

Image courtesy Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks