Area water groups unite, urge against no-pull zone
The dilemma of wakes damaging property has generated a debate in recent years, but has escalated more this year with increased watercraft traffic, larger vessels and wake surfing activity. (LOREN BENOIT/Press File)
COEUR d’ALENE — While Kootenai County sheriff’s deputies who patrol the Spokane River say they support a no-waterskiing zone in the interest of public safety, Kootenai County commissioners are saying not so fast.
About a dozen people representing county lake and river organizations, along with frequent local water users, attended a meeting last week to sound off on how excessive wakes and other boater violations should be handled to minimize friction on the water.
While supporting increased patrols and clearer laws that are more enforceable to regulate unsafe boating, audience members said they opposed the no-waterskiing zone, or no-tow, option.
“To restrict people from having fun isn’t right — that’s part of why you live on the water,” said Tom Torgerson, who said he’s been enjoying local waterways for more than 50 years.
“It’s a tough thing but you’ve got to be really careful not to punish innocent people,” Torgerson said.
Waterskier Jim Landers questioned the rationale behind a zone that prohibits his sport.
“A waterski boat produces little or no wake,” Landers said. “I just can’t see where it makes any sense to throw us into a group with other people,” he added, referring to wake surfers and wake boarders who throw off a much larger wake.
Marine deputy Sgt. William H. Klinkefus said the sheriff’s office supports the no-pull zone on the river for safety concerns.
“The Spokane River is too busy and too narrow to safely do these kinds of sports,” Klinkefus told commissioners.
Jim Stafford, president of the Spokane River Association, called the no-pull option “too harsh.”
Stafford presented commissioners with his association’s own proposal to control bad behavior on the river, including a clause that boats be prohibited from creating excessive wakes within 500 feet of shorelines or docks on any Kootenai County waterway.
Showing support for the sheriff’s proposed ordinance defining an excessive wake, Stafford said prohibiting wakes in excess of 24 inches should be considered closely by commissioners.
Susan Stiger of River Friends agreed. “I think the county is getting closer by helping to clarify the excessive wake issue,” she said.
Commissioner Chris Fillios said his concern with the Spokane River Association’s suggestions is that a 500-foot no-wake zone would be unenforceable.
“We all seem to be on common ground that if you generate a wake over 24 inches you are in violation,” he said.
A major concern with all who addressed commissioners was the lack of enforcement on county waterways.
“I agree the river’s a mess,” Torgerson said. “But you can put every imaginable code on the water and if there are not enough deputies to enforce those codes, it doesn’t really matter.”
At an earlier meeting, Sheriff Ben Wolfinger said his department has a difficult time recruiting qualified marine deputies.
The sheriff’s office recently had about 60 applications for seasonal marine deputies, a position that starts at $17.50 an hour.
Of those 60 applicants, Wolfinger estimated only about 25 would show up for their initial test. Around 15 would pass the agility testing and 10 or 12 would make it through the oral board. After background checks, only about one or two applicants remain in the pool.
Fillios said sheriff’s officials are working with officers at the Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls police departments to see if they could provide marine assistance in the busy summer months.
A draft ordinance specifying what constitutes an excess wake will need to be reviewed by the county’s legal staff before commissioners take action. Commissioners said they will continue to consider other recommendations from the public and county’s Waterways Advisory Board to address ways to make the county’s waters safer and less damaging to docks, shorelines and nerves.