As August wanes and the summer nights begin to cool us down, let’s stop a moment and say thank you to our deliciously swimmable North Idaho lakes. Although summer dawdled in June in turning the heat up, July brought the hot days it takes to warm the waters and turn our thoughts to getting wet and staying wet. There are lots of us who love to swim and believe all water -- Coeur d’Alene Lake in particular -- exists for us to swim in. Not everyone agrees. Recently, in a discussion about the future of Cougar Bay, Jim Aucutt, chairman of the Kootenai County Parks and Waterways Advisory Board, was quoted in the Coeur d’Alene Press as saying, “The waters of the state of Idaho belong to the boaters.” Grrrrrrrr/Mary Lou Reed, a former Idaho senator, Inlander. More here.

Question: Do you agree with Jim Aucutt of the county Parks and Waterways Advisory Board that the 'waters of the state of Idaho belong to the boaters.'?