Portage la Prairie City Council's Committee meeting last night heard from the Crescent Lake Use Citizens' Committee about allowing power boats on the lake.

The committee was struck when the City realized an existing by-law couldn't be enforced because the lake's under  federal jurisdiction. A survey was conducted, which indicates 58% of the 665 respondents didn't want power boats on the lake.

The committee recommended the east side of the lake be open to power boats with restrictions, and spokesperson Derek McCutcheon feels it's a good compromise.

"Between people that would want to protect the environment -- and it held that in regard -- as well as people that wanted to utilize and engage this for boating. And so, it was kind of regarding this as two bodies of water versus one."

A number of people spoke against the recommendations during Question Period, including Danny Maxwell.

Danny Maxwell

"I like the wildlife. Wildlife and boats do not work together. A boat doesn't burn its fuel clean. It leaves a little bit behind. On moving water, that

Helen Braden outlines her concernsmoves away. On a still lake like we have, (it's) stagnant water, so it's a poison for the birds. I think it's a big, big mistake, considering if we didn't have other places close for boats, then I think I'm a little selfish. But we have a lot of places for boats to go."

Mayor Irvine Ferris calls the people opposing the report eloquent.

"Speaking about why the lake is so important -- why it's important to people, why it's important to wildlife -- and how unique it is, and I think they made a really good case. This is not that different than what I hear in the community. I go for a walk along the lake, and there'll be a lot of people who stop me and share information with me. Everybody has an opinion on this. This is a very important feature of our community."

Council will vote on the recommendations June 27th. You can read the report here.

Bob Jones also opposes power boats on the lake