By Kelly Cryderman, Calgary HeraldSeptember 3, 2009 6:55 AMComments (11)

CALGARY- The mere suggestion that motorboats be banned from Lake Windermere has created a tempest of debate among Calgarians who own property in the popular B. C. recreation area.

As the Regional District of East Kootenay develops its first lake management plan, surveys and documents presented at public meetings have listed a number of "options" for protecting the lake -- including "limiting power driven vessels to electric battery motors."

Other options that have riled boaters include prohibiting water-skiing and personal watercraft, or designated daily no-motorized hours.

The proposals have not only angered landowners but also prompted rumours about the lake's future. Many community leaders said their phones are ringing off the hook.

"There was a flurry of e-mails around corporate Calgary this week," said Mike DuBois, owner of the Shadybrook Resort and Marina on Lake Windermere.

On Wednesday, the regional district was forced to issue a news release stating that no decisions have been made.

Gerry Taft, mayor of the District of Invermere, said the documents were only intended to elicit opinions from residents and do not reflect the district's plans.

"Some of the content or the intent behind the survey has been misinterpreted a bit," Taft said. "None of these issues are close to being decided."

However, the options presented haven't sat well with many, including Calgary's Brett Wilson, the co-founder of FirstEnergy Capital Corp. The prominent philanthropist and businessman has owned a property on the lake for almost a decade.

"The silent majority could lose out if they don't have their views known," Wilson said Wednesday, noting there was confusion about the source of the suggestions.

"I'm not surprised it's bothered a lot of people."

Located three hours southwest of Calgary, Lake Windermere is known for its natural beauty alongside condos and multimillion-dollar lakefront homes. The area's real estate fortunes boomed in step with Calgary earlier this decade.

Wilson is far from being the only Calgarian affected. A 2005 district survey suggested a majority of the lake users are from Calgary.

But the rapid growth has created new problems. The regional district's lake management plan is meant to address issues such as environmental protection, watercraft congestion and an inadequate number of public boat launches.

Few people appeared to be paying attention to the management plan process earlier in the summer. Two open houses in July were only lightly attended.

But with the Sept. 7 deadline for public input fast approaching, DuBois became concerned residents and property owners who supported motorized boating weren't being heard.

He started handing out the district's survey last weekend, along with a page listing his own concerns. Someone made a digital copy, others added amplified fears in successive e-mails, and the issue went viral.

People were suddenly talking about the management plan.

"It's time for boaters to stand up for their access rights," Du-Bois said, noting that Lake Windermere is one of the few lakes in the area that doesn't already have restrictions on motorboats. He said a balance is necessary.

"A large part of people's lifestyle and the local economy need to be protected."

However, there are some in the area who would like a quieter lake.

Buzz Armsworth, a retiree who has lived in the area for almost 45 years, said he is not in favour of a motorboat ban. But he said some type of rules are needed to protect the lake.

For instance, the popularity of wakeboarding--which depends on big waves to be fun--has damaged the edges of the lake, promoting weed growth, Armsworth said.

"There's great concern about what is the carrying capacity of the lake," said Armsworth, who is a member of the advisory group for the management plan.

Water quality in the lake has generally been good, as the water is often "flushed" away by river flow. However, the same speaking notes say that there's a "significant amount of evidence" the water quality is slowing deteriorating.

kcryderman@theherald. canwest.com