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Marine division reports staffing shortfall and busy summer; committee discusses boat traffic trends
Summary
Bonner County marine division reported it has 10 staff versus an expected 16, described recent fatalities and crashes, and discussed increases in inspection counts reported in prior years but caveated that registration revenues may not track local use.
The Bonner County marine division told the committee it has 10 staff in the unit but said staffing should be about 16, making it difficult to staff lakes and the river daily. The marine update said the summer has been busy with a river fatality, two plane crashes, multiple boat crashes and recent windstorms.
A committee member said boat-inspection counts rose from about 19,000 in 2019 to about 26,000 last year — an increase of roughly 40%. Marine staff cautioned that inspection counts at entry points do not directly translate into local registration revenue because many transient and out-of-state boats operate under temporary exemptions (up to 60 days) and do not register locally. Marine staff also said they have seen growth in rental companies, which increases inexperienced operators and response demands.
The division reported completion of the WIF motors grant and encouraged applicants to consider positions; staff said recruitment is ongoing. The marine division also reiterated that low staffing levels make daily coverage of lakes and river patrols challenging.
Ending: County marine staff said they are hiring and that the public should expect continued busy waterways through the summer, with enforcement and response limited by current staffing levels.
