Crowded Waters North Idahoans Must Consider How To Protect Their Quality Of Life While On The Water

When the lakes become too crowded, when users begin having too many conflicts, what can be done? And who decides?

Kootenai County residents eventually are going to have to find an answer to these and other questions, as the population increases. This edition of Common Ground is the first of many conversations we’re likely to have in the coming years about our lakes.

As part of this conversation, we collected letters to the editor that are published here. We also asked three local residents involved in different aspects of lake recreation to give us their thoughts about these issues. They are: Howard Martinson, a member of the county waterways board; Cassandra Jones, a member of the Inland Northwest Personal Water Craft Association; and Jeff Smith, owner of the Fins and Feathers sporting goods store.

Q. Are the waterways already too crowded?

Martinson: No. What we do have, however is a situation of limited public access, and of crowding due to poor distribution. The county, in partnership with the State Parks & Recreation, the federal Bureau of Land Management, state Fish & Game, and the various cities, need to increase public access in such a manner that users are more spread out on the waterways.

Jones: No. The problem is with overcrowded access at the Coeur d’Alene Resort area.

Smith: Not really. Only on weekends and during summer months — June, July, August.

Q. What is the biggest conflict on the water today?

Martinson: I’d say it is between different user groups. For example, the personal watercraft (Jet Ski) users and most other users.

Jones: Boaters not being courteous to each other. And the lack of boater education.

Smith: Speed boats are getting faster and people don’t always pay close enough attention.

Q. Are there certain lakes that should be closed to certain uses for safety or aesthetic reasons? How do we decide that?

Martinson: We already have certain lakes closed to specific users. I believe that Round Lake, for example, is closed to motorized boats. We’d need to proceed very cautiously in expanding this type of closure.

Jones: No. It is up to the people to work with groups and county officials to make decisions about waterways.

Smith: Many of the smaller lakes already are “no motors.”

Q. How big of an issue is the shortage of public access to the waterways?

Martinson: Huge. In fact it is in the top two priority issues, the other being public safety.

Jones: There is a concern with housing around waterways. It seems to be limiting access.

Smith: Access has been tough. These is a need to expand current facilities.

Q. What should government’s role be in addressing access issues and overcrowding?

Martinson: Government’s role should be to increase and improve public access in such a manner that it encourages our user groups to spread out.

Jones: Officials need to work with groups and the communities to resolve issues.

Smith: Access, more. Overcrowding, none.

Q. What should be the role of private citizens and user groups in determining the future of recreational uses of the lake?

Martinson: Get involved! Attend the county waterways board meetings. Get on the board. Volunteer to assist the different governmental partners in improving our waterways. Let the board, city of Coeur d’Alene Park & Recreation Commission know what you want done. Ditto for all of the other governmental partners.

Jones: They need to get involved with their local agencies. Doing this will give officials an understanding of what the public wants.

Smith: Keep bucking for more access.

Q. How should the waterways be regulated 10 years from now to best avoid conflicts?

Martinson: I sound like a broken record here. We need to improve and increase public access, and encourage users to spread out. We also need to have a sheriff’s Marine Division which enforces the law in a fair and consistent manner. Those who boat under the influence and reckless boaters need to be removed from the waterways, for example. The Marine Division also needs to operate in a user-friendly manner, and provide boater education.

Jones: Better education to boaters. The possibility of all boaters to be licensed would be a good way to regulate and educate.

Smith: Conflict is minimal. We can put up with it for the 10 to 12 weekends it’s busy.