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McCall council approves $3,400 from boat‑ramp fees to fund nearshore testing on Payette Lake
Summary
After hearing from the Big Payette Lake Water Quality Council and IDEQ, McCall approved use of municipal boat‑ramp user‑fee revenue to cover a $3,400 gap in a $12,000 nearshore monitoring program for 2026, and asked staff to draft a funding agreement for future support.
Council approved a motion authorizing city staff to use municipal boat‑ramp user‑fee revenue to cover the $3,400 balance needed to fund nearshore water‑quality testing in Payette Lake for 2026. Parks & Recreation business manager Stephanie Bork said IDEQ estimated nearshore sampling and analysis at $12,000 per year and the Big Payette Lake Water Quality Council had secured $8,600 in LOT funding; the council requested the remaining funds from boat‑ramp revenues identified as an eligible use.
Deb Fairday of the Water Quality Council summarized recent science: a 2022 University of Idaho study by Dr. Frank Wilhelm showed increases in nearshore phosphorus; IDEQ began a 2025 baseline nearshore sampling program and will cover roughly half the testing cost this year. Council members asked technical questions about sampling frequency (monthly June–September for nearshore work), who will perform tests (IDEQ/contractors), possible continuous monitoring via buoys (feasible but costly), and citizen‑science protocols for busy weekends. Staff said boat‑ramp revenues collected in fiscal year 2025 totaled roughly $35,600, so the city can cover the requested amount for 2026 and will draft an agreement to formalize future commitments if council wants ongoing support.
By roll call vote the council approved using ramp fee revenues for the 2026 nearshore monitoring budget and requested staff — if the motion passed — to work with Parks and the Water Quality Council to implement the testing next season.
