Pend Oreille River no-wake speed limit goes into effect

Effective immediately there is a “no wake speed limit” placed on the Pend Oreille River in Pend Oreille County, Wash.

County officials said the action is necessary to prevent property damage due to the elevated level of the Pend Oreille River. The current level of the river is 2041 feet above sea level as measured at the Cusick gauging station.

The “no wake speed limit” is activated as required in the Pend Oreille County Boating Safety Ordinance No. 2001-01, as revised July 8, 2002. Specifically the ordinance states, “Whenever the elevation, at the Cusick gauging station, is at or exceeds 2041 there shall be in effect a No Wake Speed Limit.” The Ordinance defines Wake Speed: “Means a slow speed producing no wake and further does not exceed five miles per hour (5mph).”

Public cooperation in reducing speeds on the river to prevent environmental and property damage is appreciated. Violations of the “no wake speed limit” are an infraction with a fine of $66.

The Pend Oreille County Department of Emergency Management is monitoring the river level on a daily basis. Current river level information can be obtained at the Pend Oreille PUD website at http://popud.org/flow-and-elevation or by calling 509-447-1988, the recording is updated as conditions change.