Lake Cascade Marina Proposal

Open House on Proposed Marina: April 2, 2024

The meeting will solicit public input on the proposal for up to 200 boat slips, onsite fuel sales and a boat rental and retail facility. It will occur from 6 to 8 p.m. at the American Legion Post #60 at 105. E. Mill St., Cascade, ID 83611.

Representatives of the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation (IDPR), the federal Bureau of Reclamation, and Tamarack Resort will answer questions about the proposal and the review process. The marina is being considered by Reclamation under the National Environmental Policy Act.

The public comment period runs until April 17, 2024, and only comments submitted in writing via the BOR website or mailed or hand delivered to bureau will be considered (info below).

• Letter Requesting Input
• Information Package
• Open House Posters

Additional information:

• Tamarack Proposal to IDPR
• IDPR Agreement with Tamarack

Background

The Idaho Park and Recreation Board approved an agreement with Tamarack Resort to develop a marina on Lake Cascade at Poison Creek at its November 8, 2023 meeting.

A National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review will begin in the winter of 2023/2024, and successful completion of the process is a requirement for the project to be built. Tamarack proposed a marina of up to 200 slips, which will sell fuel and have other services.

The federal Bureau of Reclamation will lead the review process, which will include public outreach and an opportunity for Reclamation to receive input on the proposal. No comments will be accepted until the process is underway, which ensures all input becomes part of the official record.

The 20-year agreement between IDPR and Tamarack is contingent upon the Reclamation review and approval. Click here to see the details.

The Tamarack proposal was one of two accepted by the IDPR Board in December 2021 after a request for proposals. Following the approval of the Tamarack agreement, department staff checked with the second company, Lake Cascade Sport and Marine, which had submitted a proposal for a Van Wyck marina. The company has notified IDPR that it has formerly withdrawn its proposal, and IDPR will consider potential options for this area.

More Background: Concepts Accepted in December 2021

The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation originally considered two proposals to provide future marinas on Lake Cascade. The department issued a “Letter of Intent” to two entities that responded to a 2021 request for proposals — Tamarack Resort and Lake Cascade Sport and Marine.

At this point, the parties are negotiating to determine if the proposals have the potential to be viable projects worth pursuing. For the proposals to move forward, IDPR will require detailed conceptual plans to be submitted, which will then be reviewed and will only move forward if found to be desirable.

Ultimately, the proposals must be submitted to the federal Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) to undergo the full federal review process, which would offer a chance for interested parties to provide comment.

The proposals were presented to the Idaho Park and Recreation Board at the December 1, 2021 meeting:

• Staff Report and Request for Proposal Package
• Lake Cascade Sport and Marine Proposal
• Tamarack Resort Proposal

History

For more than 30 years, support for marinas on Lake Cascade has been building. In 1991, BOR completed a Lake Cascade Resource Management Plan, which was updated in 2002 and indicated community interest in facilities. In 2004, the Lake Cascade Marina Preliminary Study was completed, which again assessed the viability of marina services on the lake. IDPR, BOR, citizens and businesses and developers worked cooperatively on the study.

Finally, in 2016, Lake Cascade State Park and the department participated in the Cascade Community Review. One of the review’s outcomes was renewed support for development of marina services on the lake.

The department issued a request for proposals for marina services in late 2021, which netted the Tamarack proposal involving the park’s Poison Creek unit and the Lake Cascade Sport and Marine proposal involving the Van Wyck unit.

For more information email inquiry@idpr.idaho.gov or call 208-514-2254.