No-wake zone hearings draw varied reactions

By Jacob Doran / Bigfork Eagle

Last week's hearings to consider revising the mandatory 200 ft. no-wake zones on Echo and Swan lakes drew mixed reaction during the public comment period.

While the Swan Lake hearing went smoothly, with all speakers being in favor of extending the no-wake zone on the north end of the lake, the Echo Lake hearing saw a fair amount of debate as to whether or not the no-wake zone should be removed in certain corridors and small bays.

Concerning the proposal for Swan Lake, Swan Lake landowners, the non-profit Swan Lakers, Swan Sites Home Owners' Association and Montana Trout Unlimited petitioned the Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission in 2006 and then resubmitted the petition in November of 2007 to extend the no-wake zone because of existing conditions in the northern part of the lake.

The petition, which utilizes a procedure outlined in the Administrative Rules of Montana (ARM), formally requested that the 200 ft. no-wake zone established under ARM policy for all lakes in Northwest Montana be extended to one mile from the shoreline at the north end of Swan Lake.

FWP staff concurred, upon visiting with area landowners on-site, that the conditions warranted extending the no-wake zone.

A statement from FWP asserts that, "The proposal will increase safety due to the high density of recreational use and the anticipated increase of use due to future development in the narrow north channel of the lake."

The new rule, which FWP has recommended would extend the no-wake zone to the tip of the southernmost island, approximately three-quarters of a mile south of the outlet of Swan Lake.

Swan Lakers president Peter Leander was among those who gave comment during the hearing and stressed the ecological importance of the northern end of the lake, especially surrounding two islands that have become major nesting areas for geese.

"It's such a unique part of lake, and it's used mainly by kayakers and kids on rafts," Leander said. "That area is very important, and extending the no-wake zone is a good idea for environmental reasons. Recreational boating stirs up sediment that sits at the bottom of lake and causes poor water quality, both at that north end of lake and on down river."

Leander gave an example of an 8- or 9-year-old boy he recently came across, who had swam out to one of the goose nesting areas. Leander said that the reason he noticed the boy was that he had seen a snorkel sticking up out of the water.

"That's the kind of kid that is going to get killed by boats going by," Leander said, reiterating that due to the nature and existing use of the area by land owners and children, boaters should exercise caution and slower speeds when traversing the north end of the lake into deeper water. Leander was particularly concerned about the proposed Kootenai Lodge boat launch, which would accommodate up to 75 jet skis and 24 boats.

The deadline to receive public comment expires this Friday, March 14. FWP officers will then have until April 17 to consider and respond to the comments that have been submitted, at which time the matter will go before the commission in Helena. Additional comment will be taken at that time, after which the commission will make its final decision.

Echo Lake proposal meets both heavy

support, opposition from public

What FWP officials thought to be a reasonable solution to the problem of towing water-skiers through no-wake areas on Echo Lake proved to be more divisive than anticipated, last Wednesday, drawing strong support as well as heavy opposition.

Though Region One Supervisor Jim Satterfield described the public comment period as civil, there was little agreement between the two sides, both of which viewed the FWP's proposal very differently.

The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks commission has proposed a new rule for Echo Lake that would establish an alternative route to the existing path that motorize watercraft are allowed use to tow skiers, since the 200 ft. no-wake zone does not allow watercraft to travel at sufficient speeds to keep skiers upright. The commission concluded that those areas where watercraft may travel at adequate speeds for towing a skier, the subsequent waves resulted in damage to the docks and shorelines of adjacent property owners.

The commission asserts that the new route proposed would ensure greater safety and higher visibility, as well as less wave damage to docks and shoreline. The proposal would create a continuous route from Blackies Bay and Causeway Bay to the main body of water. The commission voted, in November of 2007, to direct the department to initiate rulemaking.

"We heard quite an array of comments, concerning safety issues from both those who were for and those persons who were against the proposal," Dockter said. "We basically heard two different perspectives on one issue."

According to hearings officer Rebecca Jakes Dockter, Region One officials acknowledge that, prior to two years ago, FWP officers did not strictly enforce the 200 ft. no-wake zone on Echo Lake. As a result, many people believed they could boat at whatever speed they deemed appropriate, in whichever area they chose.

Two years ago, when FWP officers began a policy of heavy enforcement, it drew a lot of attention from boaters and water-skiers, prompting a petition and leading to the proposal currently under consideration.

"There was a lot of diametrically opposed testimony," Satterfield said. "It was a much larger meeting, and the room was packed. We heard a lot of testimony from people opposed to proposal, which we heard none of at Swan Lake meeting. A substantial number of people were opposed on grounds of erosion, property damage, safety and concerns over fishing."

Approximately 40 people offered public comment concerning the Echo Lake proposal during the March 5 hearing. Satterfield estimated that an equal number spoke for and against the proposal.