Tribes Ask For Comment On Shoreline Plan

The Colville Confederated Tribes Business Council has extended the comment period on a proposed shoreline plan.

The plan would regulate development along shorelines within the Colville Indian Reservation. Depending on the type of water, the enforcement zone would be 100 to 400 feet from the shoreline.

A series of public meetings on the plan ended this week, but additional comments will be accepted until Feb. 27. Okanogan County commissioners and the tribal planning staff recommended the extension to allow more discussion of issues in the public meetings, which drew about 200 people.

A tribal spokesman said “areas of common concern” included how the new regulations would apply to non-tribal land, a lack of clarity on how the plan would affect agriculture and other existing uses, and how the tribal government intends to enforce the plan.

Copies of the plan are available by calling the tribal Parks and Recreation Department at (509) 634-8867. The department’s address is: P.O. Box 150, Nespelem, WA 99155. , DataTimes