Making waves

By BRIAN WALKER

Staff Writer

COEUR d'ALENE — Concerns of large wakes pounding into shoreline properties is having an annual ripple effect into Kootenai County commissioner offices.

When Commissioner Bill Brooks on Monday relayed to other board members concerns of large boats wreaking havoc on Spirit Lake, the discussion quickly morphed into waves being an ongoing problem on most waters countywide that hasn't been addressed, as well as an upcoming budget discussion item.

"Big waves sound like fun if you're a surfer, but not if you're a property owner on the lake having your real estate eroded and your docks damaged," said Brooks, referring to the complaints he received regarding Spirit Lake.

Nick Snyder, Kootenai County's Parks and Waterways director, told commissioners such concerns have been expressed about multiple waterways and discussed by county officials a lot in recent years. However, when the discussion has reached how to deal with the problem — hiring more marine deputies to enforce the laws that are already in place, for instance — the talk has fizzled during budget season, Snyder said.

"This is a larger issue (than just Spirit Lake), so you may want to contemplate some changes," Snyder told commissioners. "I think the board should take a look at this holistically. You hear the same thing on the Spokane River, Lake Coeur d'Alene and Hayden Lake."

There is a no-wake zone rule on lakes within 200 feet of the shoreline and docks. The no-wake rule on rivers is 100 feet from the shoreline.

"But, if you don't have enough law enforcement present, it's just another rule that's not enforced," Snyder said.

Snyder said six deputies patrol 44,000 boatable acres in Kootenai County. Snyder said when he started at the county in 2006, there were 12 deputies patrolling. As enforcement has declined, boat traffic on area lakes and rivers has climbed, he said.

Adding to the dilemma is that part-time, seasonal deputies can be difficult to find, Snyder said.

Commissioner Chris Fillios asked Snyder about restricting activities that typically cause large wakes in large lakes.

"You'd probably have pushback, but that doesn't mean that it doesn't make sense," Snyder said. "It's about responsible operation."

Dena Darrow, Kootenai County's finance director, said that as a kayaker, she sees that no-wake zones are often ignored.

"It's not just big boats," she said. "Sometimes I think jet skiers are trying to kill me."

Snyder told commissioners that he expects Parks and Waterways Advisory Board members to again ask for more funding to hire more marine deputies because, with the increase in boat traffic, the mayhem is not only an environmental concern, but a human safety issue.

Two-thirds of the county commission — Brooks and Leslie Duncan — are going through their first budget cycle.

A proposal to educate boaters on Hayden Lake about the no-wake zone with seven movable buoys will head to a public hearing later this spring.

Snyder said four educational buoys on Lake Coeur d'Alene have been deployed for the past decade.

"I'd rather seek voluntary compliance instead of more ordinances," Brooks said. "It's better to educate and raise awareness."

While making the entire Spokane River a no-wake zone was mentioned in earlier discussions, all sides agreed that drastic move would be devastating to property owners and others who use the system.

Some property owners have taken matters into their own hands by placing illegal buoys on the river.

While property owners have placed them to limit damage by creating space around their property, they create safety hazards on the river, officials said.