July 2, 2000

Lost Creek Reservoir used to be "Party Central"--a favorite spot for young folks to have a good time.

Now that it's reopened, managers of the state park are looking to make it a safe and peaceful spot for the whole family.

Little Nicholas is just the kind of customer the folks who manage Lost Creek Reservoir want here. A few years ago, Nick and his family might have been scared off by rowdy teens or reckless boats. Not anymore.

Nick: "Q: DO YOU LIKE IT? HOW COME? BECAUSE I LIKE TO FISH IN IT."

The new Lost Creek Reservoir is angling for a different kind of experience these days. The reservoir had been closed for two years while the Bureau of Reclamation shored up footings at the dam.

This state park had become a destination for partyers and vandals, so its managers decided when it reopened, Lost Creek would find a new direction.

Bruce Hamilton/Park Manager: "WE'D RENOVATE THINGS AND BEFORE THE PAINT COULD DRY, WE'D HAVE NEW BULLET HOLES AND NEW GRAFFITI. WE'VE ALREADY SEEN A CHANGE JUST IN THE FACT THAT IT'S BEEN CLOSED FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AND NOW WE'RE OPENING IT BACK UP, WE'RE SEEING A CHANGE IN THE TYPE OF CROWD WE'RE GETTING."

Now, it seems, the only f-words heard here are "family" and "fishing."

The state restocked the reservoir with cuthroat and rainbow trout, and to keep things quiet, they implemented a new rule: Boats must stay under 5 miles per hour and are not to create a wake--in essence banning both water skiing and personal watercraft from this narrow lake.

Nettie Priet/Fishing Enthusiast: "WHEN FISHING I REALLY WANT TO FISH. AND TO HAVE A BOAT WITH WATER SKIERS, AND I HAVE NOTHING AGAINST THEM, BUT TO HAVE A BOAT WITH WATER SKIING GO BY, THAT JUST DRIVES ME NUTS."

Henri Schrecengost/Fishing Enthusiast: "I THINK IT'S REALLY NICE, VERY QUIET, PEACEFUL WHICH IS GENERALLY WHY PEOPLE COME UP HERE, SO IT'S VERY NICE."

In order to keep Lost Creek Reservoir relatively quiet, one other new regulation is now in place. There's no overnight use: The park opens at 6:00 a.m. and closes at 10:00 p.m. daily.