Later that year the Diamond Lake extension issue surfaced again when Senator Robert F. Wagner of New York and NPS Director Arno B. Cammerer visited the Diamond Lake area. The purpose of the visit was to continue discussions of the possibility of adding approximately 55,000 acres to Crater Lake National Park, including the lake for “its recreational and fishing advantages.” When the Department of the Interior publicized its intentions, however, opposition by the local press and various citizens’ and government organizations in Southern Oregon mounted, thus forcing the department to drop its plans. [80]
The final thrust of the Park Service to gain the Diamond Lake and Union Creek extensions occurred during the summer of 1939. A “Preliminary Report on Extensions to Crater Lake National Park,” was prepared on September 2 to provide the background material for the proposals. The report analyzed the accessibility and the general characteristics of the areas, including scenic, scientific, historical, interpretive, and recreational values. In submitting the report to NPS Director Cammerer, Superintendent Leavitt concluded:
Recreational values are of the most importance in considering extensions to the park. The physical features of the park make possible limited recreational use. Extended development of recreational facilities in the park could seriously endanger unsurpassed scenic values. If the policy of the Service is to expand recreational activities under clearly defined land use standards, Diamond Lake particularly should be given consideration as an addition to the park. Both the Diamond Lake and Union Creek sections contain recreational opportunities lacking in the park. The Diamond Lake area could provide a greater variety of recreation involving much less timber value, and greater scientific and educational values in relation to Crater Lake than the Union Creek area. [81]
This last serious effort to acquire Diamond Lake and Union Creek foundered on public and Forest Service opposition This combined opposition, coupled with the coming of World War II, forced the issue into abeyance and was never considered seriously again.[82]
During 1945-47 efforts were made to enlarge the panhandle addition to the south boundary of the park. Discussions were held with U.S. Forest Service officials to enlarge the section by extending the east and west boundaries back to section lines. The Park Service desired the expansion for the following reasons:
The straightening out and enlarging of this tongue-like addition to the park along section lines would be very desirable. Fires that start adjacent to the park have to be handled by the staff of Crater Lake National Park, because they are able to reach the area more quickly than the Forest Service. This narrow, irregularly shaped addition to the park is not easily recognized by the fishermen, hunters or trappers, even though the boundaries are marked, and trespassing on or across this narrow neck often occurs through ignorance or carelessness.
The south entrance has now become the road entrance carrying the heaviest travel, and development has been started for a small utility area there right on the edge of the south and west boundaries. If at some future time Park Headquarters should be established at the south entrance, there would not be sufficient room for the development that would be required. It is therefore very important that this area be enlarged and straightened out while the opportunity presents itself, for administrative reasons and to provide an area sufficiently large to permit all the headquarters area and utility development that will be required in the future.
Despite some friendly overtures by local Forest Service officials, however, the effort was disapproved by regional and Washington office representatives of that agency. [83]
Appendix A9: Legislation, January 25, 1915
Appendix B9: Legislation, August 21, 1916
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