Who's In Charge Of Waldo Lake?

The water in Oregon’s Waldo Lake is so pure it’s often compared to distilled water. But just who regulates that water will be the center of a federal court hearing Monday in Eugene. Pete Springer reports.

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Waldo Lake is the second largest and the second deepest lake in Oregon.

It’s on the Willamette National Forest between Bend and Eugene.

Last year, the Forest Service announced it will ban gasoline-powered boats on the lake beginning next year.

But a federal lawsuit seeks to throw out that ban based on two challenges.

One of those claims that only the state marine board -- not the Forest Service -- can regulate surface use of Waldo Lake.

Pete Frost is an attorney for the Western Environmental Law Center.

He’s representing  conservation groups seeking to intervene in this case and says the question about regulating surface use of Waldo could set a legal precedent.

Pete Frost: “My instinct is that the judge could determine that the Forest Service has the authority to make the decision that it did without addressing necessarily the question of who owns the bed and body of Waldo Lake.”

The Forest Service has filed a motion to dismiss the challenges and a written decision is expected within a few weeks.