SAXTON — The future of Raystown Lake was considered Wednesday evening at Tussey Mountain High School, where Army Corps of Engineers officials discussed the creation of a new master plan.

In the first of four public meetings, community members were invited to talk about hopes for improvements to infrastructure, conservation and recreation along the 8,300-acre lake and its surrounding 2,100 acres of land.

A controversial planned development on Hawn’s Bridge Peninsula was not left out from discussion.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages the area, and the site’s master plan governs what development is allowed on the property.

Prior to the meeting, the Corps’ Raystown operations manager, Nicholas Krupa, said the two-year process will require extensive and thorough studies to ensure the entire property is being used to its full potential.

“We are trying to get the best people in the Corps to participate in this,” he said.

Yearly, about 1.2 to 1.5 million people visit Raystown Lake — about 80 percent of them between Memorial and Labor days, Krupa said.

“I’m not sure anybody knew how popular it was going to be,” he said of the man-made lake that was constructed chiefly for flood mitigation purposes.

But recreation and wildlife conservation also are among the Corps’ goals, Krupa said.

The master plan was last updated in 1994. Master plans have an average life­span of 15 to 25 years, meaning Raystown’s is about due for a revision, Krupa said.

A Corps spokeswoman revealed $50,000 was allocated for the master plan revision project last fiscal year and $643,000 this year.

“The project team is made up of Corps employees who are biologists, engineers, economists, park rangers, archaeologist, geologist, natural resources specialist and many other specialties,” she said.

Corps employee Avis Kennedy is heading the local master plan revision, which also was mandated by an act of Congress.

Kennedy addressed more than 75 people gathered in the high school’s auditorium, outlining the numerous steps in creating a new plan, while also talking briefly about the lake’s past.

That included information about a proposed marina development that was rejected by Corps officials last year.

Then, Texas-based Lancer Resources LP, headed by Rod Roberts, proposed a large-scale resort to be constructed on private land on Terrace Mountain.

The Terrace Mountain Lodge was described as similar to the Omni Bedford Springs Resort by Janet Chambers of Beacon Marketing Solutions, who is working with Lancer locally.

The lodge would include 220 hotel rooms, a “high-end” restaurant and bar, as well as a spa, a wedding chapel, meeting rooms and an indoor pool.

In addition to construction on private land, Lancer officials proposed a marina on Hawn’s Bridge Peninsula with room for 150 boats.

The marina, which would have an adjacent recreation area, would be constructed on Corps of Engineers’ land. Last year, the project was declined because it did not meet development guidelines stipulated in the existing master plan.

Now that the plan is being revised, opponents of the development fear changes will be made to allow marina construction, and Roberts has expressed an interest in renewing his proposal.

While the peninsula development was not ignored Wednesday night, both Kennedy and Krupa reminded those in attendance that the plan will cover the entire lake, not just that portion.

And attendees had an opportunity to discuss the entire lake when they broke into small groups in which they suggested improvements, voiced concerns and highlighted existing assets on the Corps’ property.

Reporters were allowed to sit in on the group discussions but were asked by Corps officials not to name community members in attendance.

In one discussion, attendees spoke about the benefits of hiking areas, scenic vantage points and hunting opportunities, while also voicing concerns about parking, crowded boat launches and narrow roads.

They advocated for conservation of wild turkeys and ruffed grouse and also spoke about needed improve­ments for kayaking along the lake.

The group of 12 also spoke about the Hawn’s Peninsula development. Some in the room admitted they were indifferent to the proposal, but others took a side.

One man suggested that regulations in the master plan should be “kept the way it is so (the developer) can’t do anything.”

Another man suggested that studies in the area should “take a lot of time to make sure it’s minimal environmental impact” if the development is approved.

And lastly, a woman, who also advocated for thorough environmental studies, said if the resort is constructed the “economic impact could be phenomenal.”

Those in attendance were invited to write comments and questions on cards that will be read by Corps officials. Those who did not attend the meeting can do the same online at www.nab.usace .army.mil/Raystown-Master-Plan-Revision/.

A second meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. today in Huntingdon Area High School’s auditorium, 2400 Cassady Ave., Huntingdon. The public meetings are to be “organized in identical styles.”

This week’s public meetings are to be the first of four, with the others likely to be scheduled in August, Corps officials said.

Those later meetings, Krupa said, will be strategically scheduled to accommodate tourists who frequent the lake during the summer months.

Mirror Staff Writer Sean Sauro is at 946-7535.