Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge will open Lake Lowell to boating on Monday, April 15. The Lake reopens every year on April 15 after being closed during Fall and Winter months to protect wintering birds. All boat ramps will be available for use. Refuge Manager Elaine Johnson stated, "There was a concern earlier in the year about whether the water level in the Lake would be high enough to open all the boat ramps. Water levels so far are just slightly below normal and all ramps will be opened"
Lake users and visitors are reminded that the refuge is open daylight hours only. An automatic gate has been installed at the Lower Dam Recreation Area off Riverside Drive. This gate will open at sunrise and close one half hour after sunset. As this gate does not have an automatic opening device, visitors need to be out of the area by gate closing time to ensure they are not locked in. Gate closing times are posted. Visitors not leaving before the gate closes are in violation of regulations and are subject to fines. Questions may be directed to the refuge staff at (208) 467-9278.
The U.S. fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95 million acre National Wildlife Refuge System comprised of more than 540 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands, and other special management areas. It also operates 66 national fish hatcheries, 64 fish and wildlife management assistance offices and 78 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps State, Tribal and foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state wildlife agencies.
