The Kootenai County Board of Commissioners approved a 150-foot no-excessive-wake ordinance for county waterways in 2021, responding to growing concerns about erosion, safety, and environmental impact on local lakes and rivers.
The ordinance was one of several measures commissioners highlighted during their annual State of the County address. Other accomplishments included contributing $200,000 to a National Academy of Sciences study of Lake Coeur d’Alene and helping secure rural broadband infrastructure for underserved areas of the county.
The no-wake rule applied to boats operating within 150 feet of shorelines, docks, and swimmers throughout Kootenai County’s extensive waterway system.