The future of the McDowell Dam recreation area will hang in the balance when the Burleigh County Commission and water resource district square off over funding.

A discussion on McDowell is on the agenda for a Thursday meeting that features the 2007 Burleigh budget. The commission cut $36,000 from the district's funding, which is earmarked for capital improvements.

Burleigh commissioners are interested in cutting county ties to the popular recreation site, located about six miles east of Bismarck. The recreation area is free to the public, and Commissioner Marlan Haakenson and others have called it a "money pit."

The recreation area generates few revenues and has water quality and quantity problems from a small drainage basin. There is some discussion about a $500,000 Apple Creek diversion, to supplement existing drainage, but county commissioners are discouraged by the cost.

Water resource district Chairman Ken Royse said that most of the water board and its attorney will be at the county commission meeting, though he will miss it because of obligations out of town. Also expected at the meeting are Steve Neu, representing the Bismarck Park District, which manages the recreation area; the Natural Resources Conservation Service's Wes Wiedenmeyer; and McDowell manager Forest Ecklund.

The water district holds jurisdiction over McDowell Dam. The property, 162 acres, was gifted to the county by Harley McDowell in the early 1970s with the understanding that it would be developed as a recreation area. The district bought an additional 100 acres adjacent to the donated property.

Royse said it cost $700,000 to construct the dam and recreation area, which did not include the land cost. In 2005 the facility, not including the land, was valued at $2.5 million. The district provides $120,000 annually for operation of the area, which is managed by the Bismarck Park District and pays Ecklund's salary.

"On a good year, McDowell will attract 75,000 to 80,000 visitors, and during a poor year 40,000 to 50,000," Royse said. "That's similar to the visitation the Cross Ranch and Fort Ransom get. It's mostly used by families who are fishing, swimming or using the trail system. It has true multipurpose use."

The NRCS helped pay for the development of the property, and there is a 50-year contractual commitment by the water district to maintain the facility, according to Royse. But what that commitment involves is vague, since finding a copy of the contract has been difficult, though it will surface with some looking, Royse said.

Haakenson said the commitment may be minimum, just maintaining the dam, not including the recreation amenities. New playground equipment and repaving of the roads and parking lots next year is a goal of the water district.

Royse said the water district has $300,000 in reserves and could fund McDowell for several years by drawing down that reserve. But the district board is hesitant to oppose the wishes of the county commission, which appoints board members.

The park district hasn't changed its position regarding McDowell, according to Neu. The district has been managing the facility since it was opened and has been reimbursed for operation expenses by the district.

"This is far too great an investment to abandon," Neu said. "We need to look to the future and what will happen around McDowell as the community continues to grow to the east. It is a major asset now and will be a greater one."

Cutting capital improvement dollars is a critical issue, Neu said. Upgrades to the facility, along with improvement of accessibility, need to be addressed. There also is the consideration of the contract with the NRCS.

County commissioners have said they would like to turn ownership of McDowell to the Bismarck Park District. But Neu questions whether the district can afford the costs.

"This begs the discussion of looking at the bigger picture of city and county parks and providing parks and recreation in Burleigh County," Neu said. "This has been a topic for many years.

"What will parks and recreation opportunities throughout the county look like in years to come?" asked Neu.

"There's an opportunity now to make changes. It's probably a timely subject,"Neu said.

The public hearing for the final 2007 Burleigh Budget will begin at 5:15 p.m. Thursday at the Tom Baker Room of the City/County Building.