[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6268927,"mediaKeyId","3048569-ea30ab6c676f624bf1db27dfcbd3b713","parentId",3048569,"title","Waterways committee reports on Garfield Bay, Priest Lake lights, Granite Creek dock and buoy application timeline","audioSeconds",608,"startMs",363000,"endMs",971000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3048569-ea30ab6c676f624bf1db27dfcbd3b713&start=363&end=971","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3048569-ea30ab6c676f624bf1db27dfcbd3b713/thumbnail_363000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6268927/Bonner-County/Idaho/Waterways-committee-reports-on-Garfield-Bay-Priest-Lake-lights-Granite-Creek-dock-and-buoy-application-timeline","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6268927-c52a6db3bdc22dc973bf7320bd9a8fb8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169822&Signature=CQOWkzivC9N8gtjLl64Yeeoa3PWg~Ice6NPbbL6YKvJONMkdshaDcEGnPBRS-O0GOH9vw1aEMG2vU8x1jGKLTX8ewUwB2GpCgDL6M4NPHF7PpkamCbfbeHepw8imU~2OfZSo2CkMw1ks4O4n~L0QYQvl~pjCqG-crIe0xbtN4lp-eaTT6KyenHawUPTiAAGimEATXAf6J32MckJf5yW9tqRbvjAo2foWj28MXMNwpioN62xcWbhJlWXQuNnDRc7uRYWkPMUF18iBE3wzxh7Q0bhZJIRdYBzTsO62EmEAi5RQt0IqA4mYp7h-bGe0M3cQeyWGRbPZdcsyNnP5xxV1TA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-17T21:26:27Z","article","At its April 17 meeting the Bonner County Waterways Advisory Committee received project updates from Parks and Waterways staff on multiple county-managed recreation improvements and a pending buoy-application process.

Staff reported they are finishing a Garfield Bay grant project that provides new picnic tables, benches and ADA-compliant concrete pads. The director said crews have poured concrete by hand because the ground is too soft for trucks and that the county is working to meet a reimbursement deadline of May 15. The director listed work under the Garfield Bay portion of the grant as three new benches on the levee, three bayfront benches, and nine ADA-compliant concrete pads and ADA picnic tables.

On the Cool and Swim Beach project, staff reported the work is fully funded (Priest Lake Lions Club and other local support) and waiting on suitable weather for installation. Priest Lake navigation lights and the Granite Creek Dock remain on schedule administratively; the navigation-lights grant was approved but distribution of funding is awaiting final allocations and internal reorganization at Idaho Parks and Recreation tied to ARPA-related changes.

Staff said the planned new fence at Garfield Bay will not be installed as part of the county’s work because the fence is not county property and earlier fence damage was related to snow clearing at the road. The director said Fish and Game (Idaho Department of Fish and Game) retains ownership and oversight for some elements at Garfield Bay and that the picnic-tables/benches work had prior approval from that agency.

On buoys, staff reported legal review is finishing and that the committee’s adopted application process will be open for submissions by August. Existing buoy installations that are already on record (for example, Priest Lake Narrows) will proceed; buoys never recorded will need to complete the new application process.

Administrative action: the committee approved the minutes from a January special meeting addressing grants. A motion to approve the minutes carried unanimously by voice vote; the transcript records the vote as \"aye\" from members present and a verbal note of unanimous approval.

Ending: Staff asked applicants to prepare submissions by the August application date and said the department will finalize buoy application language before summer boating season begins.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Waterways Advisory Committee (WWAB)","oneSentenceSummary","Committee staff reported progress on several Bonner County recreation projects — Garfield Bay improvements, Cool and Swim Beach, Priest Lake navigation lights and Granite Creek Dock — and said a new buoy application process should be ready for applicants before the August deadline. The committee approved its January minutes unanimously.","taxTitle","Bonner County, Idaho","taxId",49415,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6268932,"Bonner County waterways panel debates FEMA boat-launch repairs, asks community to help with funding and outreach",2822,1041000,3863000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3048569-ea30ab6c676f624bf1db27dfcbd3b713&start=1041&end=3863","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3048569-ea30ab6c676f624bf1db27dfcbd3b713/thumbnail_1041000.jpg","/articles/6268932/Bonner-County/Idaho/Bonner-County-waterways-panel-debates-FEMA-boat-launch-repairs-asks-community-to-help-with-funding-and-outreach","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6268932-f994cb35a65a97398b67ed28015843c9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169822&Signature=fcXtbm3sKBhiScy27lQYh5TNN4oEJZ92la7RLhFIpEIMSQLFURFsGxHqr2URi186sBBQTNXz~o-dfHTk1TmBJoM4dj7jr1w0-kWg4vVN8PDEVHCs9Re~pJ~IRsesI1BH75vubtPbizp0leXp3kI9CCJATJFkt-j~LhNm5Q5mCGwvBrycNk-eZGWsJJm7P2HGgzEt2tfcJ0VP~g681BX~8bhsh9JNYCQidocL5r7Na5cHa09xvKPB6DEtQYxNnBcwqL2lLCAkWDOKKaavv1V1BG~bWx-ouBvhWM2MMwNwjZpGwWMAUismOVmdAL375Ly8H1s55H0OTE4J2ndB0uYfxw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Bonner County Waterways Advisory Committee on April 17 discussed whether to move the FEMA boat launch higher on its project priority list and sought local partners to help pay for and promote improvements.

The discussion centered on access and safety at the FEMA ramp, which sits adjacent to Raptor View Estates. Committee members raised concerns that improving the ramp without additional parking or a turnaround could increase traffic across private property and affect adjacent HOA docks. Ray, a committee member, said Raptor View’s HOA president indicated the neighborhood might oppose increased public use unless land was sold for parking.

The issue matters because a repaired, advertised ramp would provide broader public access and potentially a year-round launch point for emergency responders. The county’s parks and waterways director said the department has limited staff and budget and is prioritizing projects judged to be safety needs, such as Priest Lake navigation lights and Granite Creek Dock repairs.

The director told the committee the office’s workload limits what it can lead: “my plate is at capacity, currently,” and said many existing grants and legacy projects require staff time to close out. The director offered to administer a WIF (waterway infrastructure) grant under county auspices if a community member or organization agrees to write the application and provide matching funds.

Committee members discussed options including asking Raptor View Estates to sell a small parcel for a turnaround, fundraising or donations to cover match requirements, and applying for a WIF grant. The director advised that county match money is earmarked for other near-term needs (including a vehicle for groomer programs), and said FEMA boat-launch work likely would not move forward with county funds before 2026–27 unless outside partners supply match.

Members also agreed on short-term outreach steps. The committee assigned a “homework” task to produce a short, vehicle-readable pamphlet or poster to distribute at storage facilities, marinas and public docks as part of a two-year education campaign to encourage boat registration in Idaho and to reach transient boat owners. The director said the county can help submit grants but needs someone else to prepare grant applications and lead community outreach.

The committee set two practical next steps: committee volunteers and local stakeholders will draft the outreach materials this summer, and members were asked to contact the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office and storage-facility operators to seek buy-in for an education campaign and potential enforcement or educational patrols. The committee indicated it will review progress at its next regular meeting on July 17, 2025.

\"I just see opportunity there, and I see dollars being flushed down,\" Ray said, urging the committee to pursue outside funding and outreach.

The director repeated that the department can support grant administration but cannot carry additional large projects alone: \"If you write the WIF grant, I'll submit it underneath Bonner County,\" the director said.

Ending: The committee did not adopt a formal resolution to fund or repair the FEMA ramp at the April meeting. Instead members agreed to pursue partner-led grant-writing and to create outreach materials this summer, with a progress check at the July 17 meeting.","At its April 17 meeting, the Bonner County Waterways Advisory Committee discussed whether to prioritize repairs to the FEMA boat launch, heard that the county lacks staff time and matching funds to lead a project, and agreed to pursue community partners and an outreach campaign to increase boat registrations.","actionData","errors"]

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Waterways committee reports on Garfield Bay, Priest Lake lights, Granite Creek dock and buoy application timeline

Bonner County waterways panel debates FEMA boat-launch repairs, asks community to help with funding and outreach