County receives Thorofare grant

SANDPOINT — Another implement is dropping into Bonner County’s toolbox for grappling with sedimentation that threatens to seal off motorized access to Upper Priest Lake.

Bonner County commissioners received an $80,000 Idaho Department of Parks & Recreation waterways improvement grant to dredge the mouth of the Thorofare. The county kicked in $10,000 of its own money and Save Our Thorofare contributed another $20,000, resulting in a project total of $110,000.

However, the county is holding off on the dredging until recommendations for the most effective way to curb sedimentation materialize through an Idaho Department of Water Resources-funded study.

“We are going to wait,” said Steve Klatt, Bonner County’s director of Parks & Waterways.

Requests for proposals for a consultant to conduct the study have been sent out. A consultant is expected to selected by next spring.

“The initial focus will be doing some of the modeling on the Thorofare channel,” said Klatt.

A variety of potential solutions are expected to surface through the study, such as rehabilitation, reconstruction or reconfiguration of the breakwater, dredging and the installation of other structures to control sediment.

County Commissioner Todd Sudick told the Idaho Water Resources Board last month that keeping the Thorofare passable is essential to maintain access to Upper Priest Lake to all boaters, including those with handicaps. The county also contends that motorized access to Upper must be maintained in case of a medical emergency or a wildland fire.

The Idaho Department of Water Resources approved $300,000 in funding to conduct the Priest Lake water management study earlier this year. Elements of the study include an analysis of hydrological conditions and evaluation of the potential to store additional water in the lower lake while maintaining reasonable flows to the Priest River.

The study will also involve an engineering analyses of potential improvements to the dam at Outlet Bay and the breakwater.