Merrill: State took no position

Idaho state parks Director Nancy Merrill told the Senate Resources Committee today that when her agency sent 32,000 letters out to registered boat owners in North Idaho about the possible closure of the 3rd Street boat launch in Coeur d’Alene, it was following state law, which says it’s responsible for boater access on “waters of this state.” Said Merrill, “We were not directing users up there … how to respond. We were just simply informing them there was a process, gave them the websites, how they could be informed.” The Dec. 29 letter, which the state ran by city officials before it sent it out, said, “The City of Coeur d’Alene is developing a conceptual plan for McEuen Park which may include closing the existing boat launch facility at 3rd Street Marina.” It then gave the time and place for the city’s first public meeting on the project on Jan. 6, along with city website addresses information on how to send in comments.

“Closure of the 3rd Street boat ramp may limit boater access to Lake Coeur d’Alene in the future. If you use this facility you are encouraged to comment,” the letter concluded. Merrill said, “We did not attempt to define a position, nor have we taken a position.” Click below for more on this.

“Our only concern is boating access, for which we are responsible to our boaters who pay the registration for that,” Merrill said. She noted that the Idaho Department of Fish and Game also expressed concern about the plan; in a Jan. 11 letter to the city, its regional supervisor, Chip Corsi, wrote that recent usage declines at the 3rd Street launch likely were due to the economic downturn and a decline in kokanee fisheries; that fishery has now recovered, Corsi wrote, and Fish & Game expects a big increase in fishing on the lake in 2011.

The 3rd Street launch has an advantage over the Higgins Point or Blackwell Island launches, Corsi wrote, because it is maintained in the winter, and that makes it key for for late-fall waterfowl hunters on the lake.

Sen. John Goedde, R-Coeur d’Alene, said he asked for the committee review because of concerns he’d heard from city officials. “Maybe Parks & Rec should be spending money on putting in another boat ramp, rather than sending out $11,000 worth of letters,” Goedde said. Merrill said the $11,000 for the letters came from a grant from the U.S. Coast Guard’s Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, and the department received dozens of calls, letters and emails thanking it for informing boaters about the project.

Goedde said he’s still concerned. “I think the obligation is directly on the state,” he said. “I don’t know that the city has any obligation to replace the boat launch, but I understand that the city is trying to look at options, and I think that’s commendable.” Merrill said if the city wants to build a new launch to replace the 3rd Street launch, grant funds are available through her department for which the city can apply.