Waldo Lake Motorboat Ban Goes To Court

Waldo Lake, east of Eugene, is used to coming in second. It's the second largest lake in the state - after the Upper Klamath Lake. And it's the second deepest - after Crater Lake. But next year Waldo Lake will grab attention in a Eugene federal court.

Listen to the story here.

“Stub” Stewart was a famous Oregon outdoorsman -- timber company owner and state lawmaker -- and seven years ago he successfully fought a motorboat ban at Waldo Lake.

Stewart died in 2005, and now his son Steve is keeping up the fight.

Chandra LeGue is with the environmental group Oregon Wild. She says earlier this year, the U.S. Forest Service finally decided to ban motorboats on the lake, once and for all.

Chandra LeGue: “The forest service made their decision after several years of study. And the Stewart family, Steve Stewart in particular, appealed the decision. And then in June, the forest service denied those appeals. Basically said, No, we're gonna stick with our decision.”

So, with his appeal denied, Stewart filed a lawsuit this week in district court. It alleges the forest service doesn't have the authority to ban boats on the lake -- that only the state can do that.