Improvement Money Ok’D For 3 Lakes Grant Request For An Upper Twin Lakes Project Rejected

Boaters will see improvements worth more than $100,000 at three lakes next summer, thanks to a handful of grants from the state parks department.

However, a $144,200 grant request to buy land and improve the boat launch and parking at Upper Twin Lakes was rejected.

The Twin Lakes project was the next line item on the state’s list when the grant money ran out, said Kurtis Robinson, supervisor of the county’s parks and waterways department.

“Thirty-eight projects were awarded grants and we were 39,” Robinson said, adding that he’s looking for another way to pay for the project.

One possible source is the lease the Hagadone Corp., pays for the floating green on The Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course. Part of that money is available for county waterways projects, Robinson said.

The grant money would have been used to buy a $75,000 lot adjacent to the site that would have doubled the amount of space the county has there for its dock and boat launch.

Most of the remaining grants requested by the county were approved. Kootenai County usually receives the largest share of the statewide Waterway Improvement Fund grants, as much as a third of what’s available.

That’s because the money comes from boater registration fees and Kootenai County has the largest number of boaters in the state and the second-greatest amount of water available for boating. Bonner County has the most water and the second-largest number of boaters.

The projects approved Tuesday were:

Enclosing the swimming area at Hauser Park and installing seven personal watercraft slips along the dock. The $46,118 designated for this project also will pay for a handicap-accessible approach ramp, a sidewalk from the parking area to the ramps and reinforcement at the end of the launch ramp to prevent damage to the lake bed from powerloading boats.

Improving sites on Fernan Lake at a cost of $33,500. New anchors will be added to prevent docks from drifting and handicap-accessible approach ramps will be put in at Fernan Park and mid-Fernan. A vault toilet will be added at Fernan Park. The state, however, rejected the county’s request for money to put in a fishing dock at mid-Fernan.

Purchasing 12 buoys, 15 solar-powered buoy light systems and a crane with an electric winch to handle the buoys at a cost of $12,000. The buoys would replace damaged ones on the Spokane River, at Rockford Bay and at Scenic Bay. Other buoys would mark the “no wake” zones at the south side of the bridge at U.S. Highway 95 on the Spokane River and on the east end of the docks at Hauser Park.

Buying a 20-foot work boat at a cost of $29,885. The boat would be used primarily in shallow areas and for staff inspection tours of boating areas.

COUNTY’S SHARE To receive the grants, the county has to offer matching funds. This year, the county’s share will be $10,500. County commissioners voted Tuesday to accept those grants.