Land Board Vote Allows Dredging Priest Lake Landowner Can Dredge Sand Around Dock

The Idaho Land Board reversed itself Tuesday and voted to allow a Priest Lake landowner limited dredging to keep sand from building up around his dock.

Landowner Nathaniel Pace lost his original bid to dredge sand from in front of his property at Steamboat Bay.

On Tuesday the Land Board went along with the Department of Lands new recommendation, denying protests from the Citizens to Protect Priest Lake and the Selkirk-Priest Basin Association. Those groups were concerned about a lack of conditions put on the dredging. They feared the state would set a bad precedent by allowing property owners to disturb the lake bed.

Pace originally asked for “continuous dredging” but the board voted to allow him to dredge only twice over the next five years. He must use no more than a two-inch hose.

The Department of Lands staff noted that the dredging won’t solve the problem of sand building up around Pace’s dock. After five years, if Pace wants more dredging, he must reapply so the department can evaluate the impact of past dredging.