Burleigh County commissioners shed some doubt on the future of the McDowell Dam recreation area east of Bismarck, favoring instead an investment in the development of the Missouri Valley Fairgrounds.

Water Management Board chairman Ken Royse and Houston Engineering's Mike Gunsch presented a status report Monday on McDowell Dam, which is turning 25 years old. The water board is developing a strategic plan and planning public meetings on the facility possibly in April.

"The facility is approaching a turning point," Gunsch told commissioners. "While it is well maintained, the playground equipment is outdated and not ADA compliant. There is not sufficient runoff to maintain the best water quality for recreation. How can we improve McDowell to meet its original intent? Decisions need to be made on the facility."

The water district has looked at ways to improve water quality of McDowell, including a diversion of Apple Creek water, according to Gunsch. The project was expected to cost about $305,000, noted Royse, but that estimate was developed a few years ago and costs could now approach $500,000.

A short-term fix for the water quality problem, which Gunsch says will continue to deteriorate unless the area sees a lot of precipitation, is an alum treatment. This, according to Gunsch, consists of setting up a water treatment process to tie up the nutrients in the water and improve its water quality. The process will provide for six or seven years, at which time other alternatives will have to be looked at. Cost of the alum process is estimated at $80,000, of which the State Water Commission will cover $48,000, leaving the water district to come up with the remainder. Royse suggested that the North Dakota Game and Fish Department may be willing to split the remaining $32,000.

"Unless we do something, the water quality will continue to deteriorate and at some point in time the quality of the lake will be such that anybody won't want to be near it," Gunsch said. "The timing is unknown. Heavy rains would improve the quality."

Commissioner Marlan Haakenson said he thinks Burleigh should allow nature to take its course with McDowell, calling it a "money pit, which the county keeps throwing money at." He feels agreements would allow the county to lease the property and its only real responsibility is to maintain the integrity of the dam.

Copies of the actual agreements involving the Natural Resources Conservation Service are difficult to come by, according to Gunsch and Royse, and the only remaining copies appear to be in Washington, D.C. According to Gunsch, the agreements cover a 50-year span and require a caretaker. There also are provisions that should the county sell or lease property, proceeds must be invested back into the property.

Gunsch said he thinks use numbers show the public has a vested interest in McDowell Dam, with an estimated 50,000 visitor days last year. He also thinks with the expansion of Bismarck, the recreation area will become more important in the scheme of things.

Bismarck Parks and Recreation District Director Steve Neu, whose district manages the facility, told commissioners, "I think the investment made in McDowell Dam is not something to take lightly and put aside."He added, "McDowell provides calm water fishing, which a lot of people feel is worth the investment. You take out the salaries for the full-time and part-time staff and you're spending abut $40,000 a year to maintain the lake."

Haakenson argued for developing the fairground property and building a lake to be fed from runoff of Hay Creek drainage. Approximately 16,000 acres make up the drainage and the fairgrounds is at the bottom. Haakenson proposes a half-mile-wide and three-quartermile-long lake be built on the fairground property. Haakenson added that the commission voted unanimously to pursue such a lake late last year.

"What scares me is how many people lose their lives in the Missouri - young people who don't know how to handle a river like that. What we need is a calm inland lake," Haakenson said.

In items related to the fairgrounds, the Burleigh County Commission:

* Approved a request by Jim Fetter to hold a three-day open air music festival July 14-16, and a shortened day on July 17. In return, Fetter offered to clean up the debris on the fairgrounds with four trucks and crews he has available, which could save the county $10,000 it was planning on spending for the clean-up. Fetter still has to get an OK from the Bismarck City Commission and may have to take the request to the Missouri Valley Complex Authority.

* Failed to take action on a request by the Classtiques Rod & Custom Car Club to pave the access road to the 4-H Building on the fairgrounds for the club's event this summer. The commission had encouraged the Complex Authority to do the work and expected to use a portion of the $270,000 set aside for the fairgrounds for the work. But with the Bismarck Parks and Recreation Department working on a management plan for the fairgrounds, which includes the $270,000, the commission would not order the road be paved. Jim Schmidt, representing the club, said they likely would go to Mandan to work out an arrangement for their event.

(Reach reporter Gordon Weixel at 250-8255 or gordon.weixel@bismarcktribune.com.)