Lost Treasure in North Dakota

North Dakota has one of the most amazing unused resources imaginable. Lake Sakakawea spans over an enormous area right in the center of the state, but very few of the states 600,000 registered hoopleheads have ever been on it or realize how vast the lake is. If the state made even a moderate attempt to develope the tourism potential of the lake the economic impact could be vast. Between the states lack of imagination and to determination of the Corp of Engineers to suppress recreation, nothing ever happens to improve the lake facilities. The corp does everything it can to make any improvement difficult if not impossible. The state acts like the lake does not exist.

In a classic Corp State fiasco a new marina was built or should I say is still being built at Garrison. Garrison already had a five million dollar marina. Who would put two multimillion dollar marinias in one small town while there is not a single marina on the western three quarters of the lake? Brain dead is the only explanation. Ten million dollars in one place when three million in three places could have done wonders. For larger boats there are no facilites for over one hundred fifty miles of the lake. The amazing ineptitude of the state combined with the obstinance of the corp has assurred this lake will never reach it's potential. However, this may be just fine for a lot of people that enjoy the solitude, and I may just count myself one of them.