Slow Boating Urged For River Groups Want Motorized Crafts Kept Off Parts Of Spokane River

Ten Spokane-area groups involved in recreation and wildlife activities want motor boats and personal watercraft banned from two sections of the Spokane River.

Groups such as Friends of the Centennial Trail and the Spokane Canoe and Kayak Club want county commissioners to restrict fast-flowing sections, totaling about 25 miles of river.

They have some support from the marine division of the county sheriff’s department.

Deputy Tom Henderson estimates that office gets about one call a week with a complaint about motorized boats on those stretches of the river - usually about increasingly popular “personal watercraft,” such as Jet Skis and Wave Runners.

The jet boat users like to run upstream, against the current, he said. Canoeists and kayakers like to paddle downstream.

“There just isn’t enough room to allow what’s going on,” Henderson said. “It’s safest for the Jet Skiers to stay off that water.”

The groups want all motorized boats banned from the river between Plantes Ferry Park in the Valley and the state line, and from the Monroe Street dam and the Nine Mile boat launch.

Joining the call for the ban are Trout Unlimited, Inland Empire Fly Fishing Club, Spokane Fly Fishers, Audubon Society of Spokane, Northwest Whitewater Association, Hobnailers Walking Club, Spokane Canoe Classic and Northwest River Ecology.

Local boat dealers said there is no Spokane chapter of the Personal Water Craft Industry Association.

But a proposed ordinance would almost certainly draw fire from local jet boat owners, whose numbers are growing each year, Henderson said.

“I’d like to see everybody get along, but that’s not happening,” he said. Jet boats would still have access to the Long Lake reservoir on the river, as well as other large lakes.

John Roland, a spokesman for the groups, acknowledged Wednesday the proposal is primarily aimed at jet boats. The fluctuating river levels usually keep large boats off those sections of the waterway.

Spokane County Commissioner John Roskelley, who was familiar with the groups’ request, said Wednesday he would be willing to hold a hearing after an ordinance is drafted.

“Nobody likes rules and regulations … but eventually you have to look at them for everybody’s sake,” he said.

Because of the time involved in drafting an ordinance and holding public hearings, it’s unlikely such a ban would be put in place this summer, Roskelley said.

Commissioner Steve Hasson said he hadn’t seen the request, but would be willing to hold a hearing that would address the restrictions and other issues regarding the river. The county is also getting requests to add places where people can launch boats and complaints about swimming.

“We haven’t had a good dialogue about the river,” Hasson said. “If there’s a problem, the solution should be a complete strategy.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Graphic: River restrictions