It only makes sense for the city of Lyle to provide access to one of its best tourist attractions!

Martin Anderson - Kiteboarder.

Matt Ryan

Listed as second level priority only because of the difficulty of acheiving the goals stated

"Goal 4: Identify management strategies to address increases in demand, unmanaged recreation and the capacity needed to provide for current and expected demand."

Seems that an interim management plan could be established with minimal impact on the environment.
The impact of allowing responsible access to the Lyle sandbar and adjacent rivers is much less onerous than the threat of a major/minor oil spill, fire, destruction, pollution etc. from the Bakken crude oil transported through the gorge.

It is gems such as the Lyle sandbar that make people want to live in this region.

This makes it easier for current employers to retain the skills they require as well as to increase the likeliness that future companies will locate their base of operations here. This brings more value to the region in the form of job opportunities, housing prices, tax dollars and tourism dollars.

Projects such as the Lyle sandbar not only benefit the individuals who are recreating, rather the entire community gains from the benefit of a feature that will stimulate future economic growth region wide.

There are threads that lead back to the start of some of the regions largest economic powerhouses that can be traced directly to the windsurfing craze of the 80's and 90's. Without windsurfing these economic powerhouses would likely not exist in the Gorge region today.

25 years from now what companies will we be able to trace origins back to the windsurfing, kitesurfing, kayacking, SUPing, and other recreational activities enjoyed at the Lyle sandbar?