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Parks, Recreation and Waterways Fact Sheet

Kootenai County Mission Statement:

It is the mission of Kootenai County government to provide professional service with regard to public safety, essential service, preservation of natural resources, and the responsible management of public assets for the common well being of our citizens.

Kootenai County Vision Statement:

An innovative, cost-effective government the community can be proud of, committed to a high quality of life and excellence in public service.

Values and Operating Principles:

Professionalism: Innovative, Qualified, Honesty, Integrity, Personal Excellence
Customer Service: Responsive, Prompt, Compassionate, Quality Service
Accountability: Responsible, Cost Effective Use of Public Resources
Communication: Open and Honest Sharing of Information and Ideas
Teamwork: Creative Cooperation

Structure:

  1. Board of County Commissioners
  2. Parks and Waterways Advisory Board
  3. Parks and Waterways Department.

Kootenai County Parks and Waterways

Mission:

To provide recreational users of our parks and waterways safe, clean, and suitable facilities, which best meet their needs in the most cost-effective way possible.

Internal and External Clients:

Kootenai County Departments, other governmental agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Bureau of Land Management, Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, and the public.

Responsibilities:

Maintain safe, navigable waterways - Private Aids to Navigation (PATON'S): 27 PATON'S, 10 with lights; 38 regulatory and/or swim buoys.
Boating Access: 27 boat launches, three breakwaters, 32 facilities with docks and/or mooring buoys.
Clean water: Clean Vessel Act has funded 12 marine pump-outs.
R.V. Dump Station: Kootenai County Fairgrounds.
Parks and Trails: Various parks and trails with numerous recreational opportunities.

Maintenance and Repair:

Maintain various sites and facilities with other departments and outside agencies.

Development and Construction:

Grant projects - Waterways Improvement Funds (WIF); Boating Infrastructure Grant Program (BIGP); Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF); Department of Transportation Enhancement Funds for trails and trailheads; local, regional and other funding programs.

Planning for the Future:

Parks, Trails and Waterways Classifications and Standards; Maintenance Management Plan; Master Plan; Comprehensive Plan.

Community Participation In Partnership with Parks and Waterways:

Family; Pride; Ownership; Sports and Recreation Opportunities; Economic Benefits.

Staff:

  1. Director
  2. Assistant Supervisor (1)
  3. Administrative Secretary
  4. Mechanic Operator (1)
  5. Light Equipment Operator/Laborer (2)
  6. Maintenance Workers (1)

Other Items of Interest:

Clearance at Hwy 95 Bridge over the Spokane River (2128 Ft. Elevation):
  • North end of bridge: 54' (+ or -)
  • South end of bridge: 26' (+ or -)

Waterways Advisory Board:

  • 9 Members

    Boatable Surface Acres:

  • 44,840
  • Lake Elevations:

    • Coeur d'Alene Lake:Low Water-2121' High-2128'
    • Fernan Lake: Low Water-2131.37'
    • Hauser Lake: Low Water-2187'
    • Hayden Lake: Low Water-2239'
    • Spirit Lake: Low Water-2442'
    • Twin Lakes: Low Water-2312.39'
    • Pend Oreille Lake: Low Water-2051.5' High-2062.5'

    Grants:

    • Waterways Improvement Fund Grants: Varies each year, however generally from $100,000 to $300,000.00 available each year.

    Lake Surface Area and Depths (acres):

    • Lake Pend Oreille 80,640 (1173')
    • Spirit Lake 1,300 (100')
    • Upper Twin 500
    • Lower Twin 350
    • Hauser Lake 550 (40')
    • Hayden Lake 3,800 (178')
    • Fernan Lake 450
    • Lake Coeur d'Alene 31,872 (183')

    Inventory:

    Buoys:

    • Spokane River: 9
    • Lake Coeur d'Alene:
      • Beauty Bay/Mooring: 3
      • Loff's Bay/Mooring: 3
      • Rockford Bay: 6
      • North Idaho College: 7
      • Windy Bay: 1
      • Lake Pend Oreille: 5
      • Hayden Lake: 1
      • Spirit Lake: 1

    Pumpouts:

    • Conklin Park Marina - Lake Coeur d'Alene: 1
    • Eleventh Street - Lake Coeur d'Alene: 1
    • Harrison Docks - Lake Coeur d'Alene: 1
    • Hudson Bay Marina - Lake Pend Oreille: 2
    • Third Street - Lake Coeur d'Alene: 1
    • Fairgrounds R.V. Dump: 2

    Navigational Lights:

    • Arrow Point
    • Driftwood Point
    • East Point
    • Fort Sherman
    • McDonald Point
    • Spokane Point
    • St. Joe
    • Third Street Breakwater
    • Tubb's Hill
    • Shingle Bay
    • Coeur d'Alene River

    Pumpouts:

    • Lake Coeur d'Alene
      • Conklin Park
      • Eleventh Street
      • Fairground R.V. Dump
      • Harrison Docks in Harrison
      • Rockford Bay
      • Third Street
      • Boardwalk Marina in Coeur d'Alene
      • Silver Beach Marina in Coeur d'Alene
    • Lake Pend Oreille
      • MacDonald's Hudson Bay Marina (2)
    • R.V. Dump Station: Kootenai County Fairgrounds in Coeur d'Alene

    Breakwaters:

    • Harrison Breakwater - Lake Coeur d'Alene
    • Third Street Breakwater - Lake Coeur d'Alene

    Equipment:

    • Vehicles - (5) pickup trucks, (1) 2-ton flatbed truck, (1) 5 Yard Dump Truck.
    • Boats - 30' Almar, 21' Almar, 19' Fishrite, 12' Lund
    • Miscellaneous mowers, chainsaws, and other tools. The department also shares equipment with other County departments.

    Also share equipment with other County departments.

    Annual Overhead and Maintenance:

    • Parks Department: $ 120,726.00
    • Waterways Department: $ 194,000.00
    • Total: $ 314,726.00

    Facilities:

    1. County Owned/Maintained: 32
    2. Jointly Owned with Other Agencies: 20
    3. Total: 52

    4. Boat Launches: 27
    5. Facilities with Docks: 32
    6. Trails: 2
    7. Private Aids to Navigation: 27
    8. Marine Pumpouts: 12
    9. Buoys: 38

    Navigational Lights:

    • Fort Sherman - #37; green light; 6 second flash; N47 40'02.3"; W 116 48'04.5"
    • Tubbs Hill - #39; green light; 4 second flash; N47 39'46.9"; W 116 47'00.8"
    • Arrow Point - #43; green light; 6 second flash; N47 37'59.0"; w 116 46'14.3"
    • Castle Rock - #41; dayboard only
    • Driftwood Point - #45; green light; 4 second flash; N47 35'30.9"; W 116 48'03.6"
    • MacDonald Point - #46; red light; 6 second flash; N47 33'18.3"; W 116 49'03.0"
    • East Point - #49; green light; 4 second flash; N47 28'37.5"; W 116 51'22.4"
    • Spokane Point - #52; red light; 4 second flash; N47 26'47.4"; W 116 48'13.1"
    • Shingle Bay - #55; green light; 6 second flash; N47 24'42.5"; W 116 44'40.0"
    • St. Joe - #57; green light; 4 second flash; N47 23'37.4"; W 116 45'11.2"


    Private Aids to Navigation (PATON'S):
    Identification NumberLocation and ColorGPS Coordinates
    1Coeur d'Alene River/GreenN47?27'40" W116?48'05"
    2Coeur d'Alene River/RedN47?27'30" W116?47'50"
    19Spokane River/GreenN 47?41'50.4", W116?51'46.6"
    20Spokane River/RedN 47?41'56.7", W116?50'32.7"
    21Spokane River/GreenN 47?41'55.4", W116?50'01.4"
    23Spokane River/GreenN 47?41'52.4", W116?49'28.6"
    24Spokane River/RedN 47?41'42.8", W116?49'02.5"
    26Spokane River/RedN 47?41'30.8", W116?48'34.5"
    27Spokane River/GreenN 47?41'22.2", W116?48'14.1"
    29Spokane River/GreenN 47?41'10.8", W116?47'52.4"
    30Spokane River/RedN 47?41'10.6", W116?47'53.6"
    31Spokane River/GreenN 47?40'57.6", W116?47'47.3"
    32Spokane River/RedN 47?40'57.7", W116?47'50.0"
    34Spokane River/RedN 47?40'46.8", W116?47'56.6"
    35Spokane River/GreenN 47?40'26.8", W116?48'06.8"
    36Spokane River/RedN 47?40'27.2", W116?48'11.5"
    37Fort Sherman/GreenN47?40'02.3" W116?48'04.5"
    39Tubb's Hill/GreenN47?39'46.9" W116?47'00.8"
    41Castle Rock/day board only 
    43Arrow Point/GreenN47?37'59.0" W116?46'14.3"
    45Driftwood Point/GreenN47?35'30.9" W116?48'03.6"
    46MacDonald Point/RedN47?33'18.3" W116?49'03.0"
    49East Point/GreenN47?28'37.5" W116?51'22.4"
    52Spokane Point/RedN47?26'47.4" W116?48'13.1"
    55Shingle Bay/GreenN47?24'42.5" W116?44'40.0"
    57St. Joe/GreenN47?23'37.4" W116?45'11.2"


    Main County Administration Building
    Physical Address: 451 Government Way, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho 83814 Mailing Address: PO Box 9000, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho 83816-9000
    Main Phone Number: (208) 446-1000
    Click here for directions to the County Administration Building and Courthouse.
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