Lake Freeman Rally
Credit: WLFI
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Are lowering on lake freeman, community concerns are getting louder.
On saturday, more than 200 people participated in a "save our lakes lives" rally.
News 18's micah upshaw tells us how they're planning to make a change.
Nat: this is lower than it was before... g: we are going to continue to make noise and we are going to continue to watch what they're doing because this experiment that they're doing needs to change.
M: lake freeman boaters are taking their concerns straight to state and local leaders.
Those rallying are asking officials to change a mandate put on nipsco gas and electric company.
The company provides water for lake freeman and surrounding lakes.
U.s. government group fish and wildlife put a regulation limiting the amount of water nipsco can release into lake freeman.
This comes in effort to provide more water for endangered mussels living in a nearby lake.
With water levels now seven feet lower, rally organizer gary baldwin says silence is no longer an option.
G: i started talking to my neighbors, the local businesses and said hey i want to do this i want to get you guys out here so we can try to communicate and show support for our local people here.
M: saturday's rally is the first of many according to baldwin.
He says each will be focused on state and local leaders hearing their message.
The next will take place after the election once officials take their positions.
G: i don't believe it's out of your hands because your voters and your constituents here are being harmed by what fish and wildlife has done.
B: we want a compromise, you know, we want a healthy lake, we want to have a very robust economy and we want to save the mussels too.
M: bob dion is a community spokesperson for the "save our lakes lives" movement.
He says when lower waters impact boats being able to be on the water, it directly impacts local businesses, the housing market and the animals living in lake freeman.
B: it's really been devastating, it's terrible to see.
It's paralyzed lake freeman.
M: reporting in monticello, micah upshaw.
News 18.
Rally organizers say there will be a federal hearing on the topic tomorrow.
Benton county leaders are getting ready to celebrate