Anchor lines removed from lake

COEUR d'ALENE - For several months, Diamond Cup hydroplane race officials worked to comply with state permit requirements and remove buoy lines from Lake Coeur d'Alene.

Last week, Idaho Department of Lands staff members and Diamond Cup officials were unable to detect any remaining lines during sonar testing.

"At this time, to the best of our ability, we believe all lines have been removed," Emily Callihan, a spokeswoman for the department, said Monday.

In November, The Press reported fishermen complained of snagging buoy lines, which were tied to anchors. Some of the lines were for a log boom for spectators' boats.

In early 2013, the department granted Diamond Cup officials a permit for summer races. The permit included timelines for removing lines and buoys in the water that present hazards to the public, Callihan said.

At the request of Doug Miller, the organizer of the Diamond Cup, the department granted two separate extensions of the deadline to remove lines according to stipulations of the permit.

"It took longer than we anticipated," Miller said Monday. "We got everything cleaned up."

The last lines were pulled up about three weeks ago, Miller said.

He said organizers are working with a Deer Park, Wash., construction company to engineer a plan for improved setup and removal of course markers and buoy lines.

Some anchors still remain in the lake, Miller said.

Callihan and Miller said Diamond Cup officials continue to work toward applying for a new permit to conduct races this summer.