As demand grows for boat moorage on North Idaho lakes, the state is struggling with outdated rules governing how marinas and docks can operate over the state-owned lakebeds. Members of the state Land Board indicated they were surprised and concerned last year when told of rumors that some marina owners wanted to sell "dock-o-miniums" to boat slip users when the state owns the lakes and merely leases space on them to marinas. But some variations of that approach, with users buying rights to boat slips, already are in use on Idaho lakes.

Now, the state Lands Department is starting to negotiate new rules governing lake leases, docks, community docks and commercial marinas – and determine whether marina or dock operators can "sell" individual boat slips rather than rent them out. You can read my full story here in today’s Spokesman-Review; click here to read a preliminary draft of Idaho's new rules on lake leases, docks and marinas. That site also lists upcoming public meetings on the new rules, which include open houses May 17 in Coeur d'Alene and May 18 in Sandpoint, and public negotiating sessions June 12 in Sandpoint and June 13 in Coeur d'Alene. Meetings also will be held in McCall, Boise and Idaho Falls.

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