Senate panel interviews two incumbents for Lake Pend Oreille Commission, hears priorities on economy, water levels and invasive species

The Senate Resources and Environment Committee conducted initial interviews of two incumbent members of the Lake Pend Oreille Commission during a committee meeting; the panel will consider formal votes on their reappointments at a later date set by the committee chair. Senator Hart, the committee’s vice chair, presided in Chairman Bertenshaw’s absence.

The interviews focused on local economic impacts tied to lake management, invasive-species prevention and the commission’s role coordinating among jurisdictions from British Columbia to downstream users in Washington and the Columbia River system. Both applicants described ongoing projects and past work intended to protect fisheries and local infrastructure while representing Bonner County interests.

Brent Baker, a commissioner who said he has served on the Lake Pend Oreille Commission “since its inception,” told senators the commission recently approved and funded an economic impact study to document the local value of the lake and strengthen the commission’s negotiating position with federal and utility entities. "We finally have in place now an agreement to conduct an economic impact study," Baker said. He said the University of Idaho is donating half the study cost, the commission is contributing the other half, the study is expected to start by the end of the month and should be completed by June.

Baker identified lake levels as a recurring local concern. "Our economy in Bonner County is largely built around what goes on in and around the lake," he said, adding that docks are "high and dry" through much of the winter and that the commission wants a longer high-water season in May through October. He said those operating decisions are often driven by power-generation scheduling and negotiations with the Army Corps of Engineers and power operators.

Baker also described the commission’s work on water quality and habitat protection, and efforts to manage invasive species including quagga and zebra mussels, milfoil and flowering rush. He said the commission also acts as a local clearinghouse for disaster-response preparedness given limited road access across much of the basin.

Senators asked about stakeholders and interjurisdictional coordination. Baker said the lake’s headwaters and feeder rivers involve British Columbia and Montana, while downstream users include Washington; the system ultimately ties into the Columbia River and touches Oregon. He said the commission is monitoring the renegotiation of the Columbia River treaty and has invested in legal representation to protect local interests.

Frank Brinkmeyer, identified in committee materials as the owner of Idaho Forest Group and a commissioner, said he also has served on the commission since its inception and described conservation and restoration projects he has worked on. He cited work on the Clark Fork and Pack River deltas and a Pritchard Creek restoration effort that involved state fish-and-game agencies and national partners.

Brinkmeyer told the committee his business has adopted advanced mapping and analytics, including satellite mapping and lidar, to improve forest inventories and wildfire and fuel-load management. "We morphed ... into academics, analytics, and artificial intelligence," he said, describing partnerships with academic institutions and the use of GPS, drone and lidar data to monitor treatments over time and measure outcomes.

Committee members thanked both men for their service and remarked on attendance and local engagement: Senator Guthrie praised Baker’s work with Sandpoint High School’s carpentry program and juvenile detention programming, while Senator Cook asked Brinkmeyer about mill capacity and artificial-intelligence uses in timber operations. Brinkmeyer noted his company’s mill investments and work with academic partners.

No vote on the nominees occurred at the meeting. Senator Hart said formal consideration of the candidates’ appropriateness will take place at a later meeting to be scheduled by Chairman Bertenshaw.

The committee adjourned after completing the interviews.