Locals donate fishing hole

It’s a gift that three Fernan Lake residents hope will keep on giving. The best part is, it’s for everyone to enjoy.

Pat Acuff, Doug Potter and Fernan Lake Mayor Jim Elder, all residents of the small lakeside community, recently donated a 47-acre plot of land to the city of Coeur d’Alene to be preserved just as it is – a rising, wooded hillside that offers magnificent waterfront vistas. The property, which features about 3,000 linear feet of waterfront with steep hillsides that overlook a popular boat launch and fishing area on the lake’s adjacent south side, was a gift to the people of North Idaho so that it could be enjoyed by generations to come, said Elder.

“We’ve been working on this two, three years, and our effort is to preserve it forever for the public and for our kids and families to enjoy,” he said. “Doug (Potter) and, especially, (Coeur d’Alene Mayor) Sandi Bloem we’re really on the forefront of preserving it.”

Despite Interstate 90’s proximity and a host of large homes that straddle the rim of the hillside, the area is known for its tranquility, steep terrain and stunning panoramas that cradle a bountiful fishing hole. The donated land, which is within Coeur d’Alene’s city boundaries, was almost turned into a subdivision several years ago before the plan fell through, at which point Acuff, Potter and Elder decided to purchase it with the purpose of deeding it to the city, except for five acres on the top of the hill the donors set aside for a possible subdivision.

The dock jutting out on the opposite side from the donated land has attracted numerous anglers and nature watchers, many of whom said they are glad to hear the hillside will be untouched by residential development.

“My kids come here a lot to fish,” said William Fortier, as he sat in a fold-out chair with his line cast out off the dock. “I think it’s excellent. I wish more people would do stuff like that, reserve it for our kids.”

Coeur d’Alene Parks Director Doug Eastwood said they have yet to decide what, if any, additions will be made to the land. One idea is to build hiking trails that would blend into the environment, though the city will ask for public input before any decisions are made, Eastwood said.

“We don’t have any plans,” he said. “It’s premature to put a plan together right now. The goal was to preserve the views and vistas.”

Eastwood added that while the donated property is a tremendous example of community charity, it’s not the first time it’s happened. Other land gifted to the city through the years includes 16 acres on Fernan Hill in 1990, and 25 acres on the west side of Canfield Mountain in 2005. Both of those sites became parks.

Coeur d’Alene Mayor Sandi Bloem said the recently donated 47 acres along Fernan Lake will serve North Idahoans for generations.

“It’s from three families that have been here and understand the importance of the hillsides and vistas and views in the area. It’s a wonderful example of gifting and giving back to the communities,” she said. “I think it will be wonderful and a gift that will be cherished for years to come, just like Tubbs Hill.”

About any long-term plans, Bloem continued, “It will probably have a very passive use, maybe some hiking and scenic trails going through. The idea is to keep it as natural as possible.”

Still, others said that any construction – even a few possible hiking trails – would be too much development.

“I would say leave it like it is because the more you mess with it, the less natural it becomes,” said Tom Austin, who frequents the fishing site almost every day. “They will develop it one way or the other. I’d rather see a trail than a bunch of houses, though.”

In the neighborhood around the boat launch and across the bay from the donated land, some homeowners expressed gratitude for their fellow community members’ generosity.

Looking beyond the apple tree and two towering pine trees that frame Silda Pollard’s waterfront property, the 86-year-old said she’s watched enough things change in the 42 years she’s lived in the village.

“I would rather have that than houses built on it,” she said, while taking a break from gardening. About Fernan Lake, she added, “It’s a great place to raise kids. There’s been a lot of building that’s taken place since I moved here in 1967.”

However, Pollard laughed, “Probably the trails won’t get there in my day anyway.”