Boaters face emphasis patrol weekend

COEUR d'ALENE — Kootenai County's first step toward addressing complaints about pounding wakes on the Spokane River will unfold today through Sunday with marine emphasis patrols.

"It's something we can implement near-term," Commissioner Chris Fillios said. "We're trying enforcement before we'd have to go further."

Another idea that has surfaced but not risen to serious consideration by commissioners is a no-wake zone for the entire stretch of the river from Coeur d'Alene to Post Falls.

The problem of wakes damaging property has generated heated debate in recent years but has escalated more this year with increased watercraft traffic, larger vessels and more wake-surfing activity.

"When large wakes slam into someone's property — or a canoeist — that's a prescription for damage, and it may be a prescription for even death," Commissioner Bill Brooks said.

Homeowner Ken Stauffer recently told commissioners that his 2-year-old granddaughter was knocked off his dock by a wake last year. He said she might not have survived if he hadn't been close by.

Many residents on the river and Hayden Lake installed unpermitted buoys on the water to protect their properties while letting boaters know about no-wake zones. Authorities have informed river residents that they must remove the illegal buoys.

While much of the emotional testimony from concerned residents has targeted wake surfing, a relatively new activity, wake surfers said it’s unfair to focus on them when other large watercraft also create waves.

Kootenai County Sheriff's Office spokesman Lt. Ryan Higgins said marine units will be enforcing a county law that states the speed limit on the Spokane River is 35 mph during the day and 20 mph at night.

If boaters are within 100 feet of a dock, shoreline or structure, they need to be traveling at a speed no greater than 5 mph and creating no wake.

If boaters are within 50 feet of another vessel, the maximum speed is 15 mph.

Also, no motor-driven watercraft can be operated at a speed or in a manner that creates an excessive, dangerous or damaging wake.

For its part, the wake boat industry recommends vessel operators be at least 200 feet from the shore or dock when wake surfing or wake boarding.

The penalty for the first offense on the water is a $100 fine. A second violation within one year is also $100. A third violation within a year of the second violation is a misdemeanor, which carries a fine of up to $1,000 and jail time of up to six months.

Sheriff's officials said few tickets on the river have been written because deputies are typically in reactive mode and often don't have sufficient evidence that would prove the crime in court. They're calling on river users to take specific information such as the boat's description and number when reporting offenses.

Higgins said the sheriff’s office uses two boats to patrol Coeur d’Alene Lake and the Spokane River.

"We try to get a boat on the Spokane River as often as possible," Higgins said Thursday. "During the emphasis we will have a minimum of two boats dedicated to the river with possibly some personal watercraft as well."

The emphasis will also be conducted the following weekend.

"The patrols will be targeting wake zone violations, damaging wake violations, speed and other boating-related violations," a KCSO press release states. "These patrols are being done to educate boaters and enforce (laws) to ensure everyone on the water has a safe and enjoyable time."

Anyone with questions about local boating laws or who would like to sign up for a free boating safety class, call the KCSO Marine Division at 208-446-1362.

To restore order on the river, the county's Parks and Waterways Advisory Board has recommended commissioners approve:

- Re-submitting a January 2018 advisory board proposal that includes hiring two additional marine deputies with an emphasis on the Spokane River, mandatory boater education for those who are cited for a boating violation, and funding for public education campaigns;

- Making the narrow channel on the north side of Spirit Lake near the public boat launch a no-wake zone.

Brooks said that based on his conversations with KCSO, it’s too late to hire additional marine deputies for this boating season.

Because of the county having a hard time hiring the part-timers during background tests, commissioners plan to discuss partnering with Post Falls and Coeur d'Alene for additional manpower since those cities are also on the river.

Fillios said the county has funding for marine staffing and equipment.

Brooks said any waterways ordinance proposal that would come forward this year with a public hearing would most likely address Spirit Lake. He said the rules need to be waterways-specific because each body of water is different.

"It's too late to do anything effective (on the river) this year because it has to be thought-out, well-crafted and backed up by deputies," Brooks said.