Meadow Lake Skiing Topic At Hearing

Thu., May 13, 1999

By Dan Hansen danh@spokesman.com

Spokane County commissioners have scheduled a public hearing on the future of a private West Plains lake.

Some neighbors want to ban powerboats from Meadow Lake, which is south of Interstate 90’s Four Lakes exit. Others have established a slalom course and want to continue using the lake for water-skiing.

Commissioners will hear arguments from the two sides at 5 p.m. Tuesday in the Public Works Building, 1026 W. Broadway.

Commissioners last week met briefly with sheriff’s Deputy Tom Mattern, who enforces water rules.

Mattern said the lake has about 30 acres of open water.

By comparison, Liberty Lake in the Valley covers 711 acres.

“That’s like a pond,” Commissioner Kate McCaslin said of Meadow Lake, which has no public access.

County regulations already prevent boating at high speeds within 200 feet of shore, said Mattern.

“To be able to water-ski (legally) on this lake, you’d essentially have to be at center channel,” said Mattern. “And there’d be no turning.”

While not objecting to the hearing, Commissioner Phil Harris said he doubts rules tailored for a single lake could be enforced.

“If we’re going to get into controlling watercraft, we need to do it countywide,” perhaps based on lake size, he said.

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