WATERSMEET, MI (AP)-- Property owners at a remote Gogebic County lake have defeated the federal government and won the right to use a powerboat.
In a 2-1 decision Wednesday, a federal appeals court says Dave and Pamela Herr are entitled to reasonable use of Crooked Lake near Watersmeet because they are lakefront owners.
The court says Michigan law allows property owners like the Herrs to use all of a lake.
In 2013, the U.S. Forest Service said it would enforce boat restrictions on 95 percent of the lake, which is part of a designated wilderness area.
In dissent, Judge Bernice Donald says the Forest Service restrictions on gas-powered boats are "certainly reasonable" to preserve the character of the Sylvania Wilderness area.
