Launch to be revamped

A plan to revamp the Spirit Lake Boat Launch will be unveiled at a community meeting Sept. 16.

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game plans to expand parking at the launch – the only one of three public launches on the lake that has public parking – as well as improve the launch and possibly add a second bathroom.

The availability of parking makes the launch the most heavily used on the lake, creating a bottleneck of boats and trucks and trailers.

A 1.6-acre parcel that IDFG purchased from the Idaho Fish and Wildlife Foundation for about $200,000 will allow parking to be expanded. The department has about $70,000 to fund improvements to the site, according to Tom Barker, statewide fishing and boating coordinator.

Grants could double the amount available to spend on fixing up the boat launch, Barker said.

Barker said the existing concrete launch is not in good condition. At least part of the launch will be replaced.

“We will probably overbuild it so it lasts,” Barker said.

The emphasis is on increasing parking. Because the property IDFG purchased is steep, Barker said parking will likely be terraced.

Spirit Lake Mayor Roxy Martin said the city and Kootenai County Commissioners are looking for ways to fund improvements to the beach area, as well, including adding sand and picnic tables.

County commissioners recently considered purchasing land near Nautical Loop to improve public access at that site, but the deal fell through after the seller received a better offer, Martin said.

“It’s a private lake almost,” Martin said, noting that there’s no parking available at Nautical Loop or at the Bronze Bay launch across the lake.

The launch at City Beach is “packed, it’s overused,” she said.

The public meeting on the proposed changes to the launch begins at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 16 at the Spirit Lake Senior Center.