What's up with Lake Pend Oreille's level?

Obviously I am new to the area. I remind folks of that every day as I mispronounce a street or city name. The biggest reminder, however, is when I drive the wrong way down a one-way street — something I have done several times.

So please endure my next rant, based on my naïve perspective.

Why isn’t Lake Pend Oreille at the Senate Document No. 9- imposed lake levels of 2062.5 feet for at least six months per year? Wow, I can’t believe that property owners along the lake aren’t asking for reductions in their tax bills due to the impact of lake levels. Yes, there is a document that states that lake levels should be maintained for at least six months per year.

When I arrived in December, the lake was far from most of the homes surrounding the lake and people could be seen walking the shoreline, hundreds of feet from any homes. Being the naïve, uninformed individual I am, it would seem to me that property owners could ask for a reduction in their property taxes for every month that water isn’t actually touching their waterfront property. I am not a waterfront property owner — the taxes were too high — but now that I may have a chance to ask for an eight-month-per-year reduction or an average reduction based on being landlocked for a good chunk of the year, maybe I can afford waterfront property.

I listened intently as people talked about flood control and the necessity to keep the lake levels lower for spring runoff. In fact, if my memory serves me correctly, it was brought up by officials at a meeting with Bonneville Power Administration and Army Corps of Engineers to inform the public (or dictate to the public) what was happening at Albeni Falls Dam and the Columbia River Basin.

Again, being the naïve and uniformed newcomer I am, I looked out the window of my home which looks directly at Baldy Mountain, for signs of an impending downstream flood based on higher than normal snowfall … hmmmmm, none there. Having grown up in Snoqualmie Valley, east of Seattle, I know what a heavy snow pack can do to a downstream community. I spent many nights in local businesses, including my own, preparing to sand-bag to keep the Snoqualmie away from our ability to conduct business. I’ve waded through hip-deep water to help a neighbor or family member retrieve pets or personal belongings. This year, Sandpoint and the towns surrounding Lake Pend Oreille were not in imminent danger of flooding. So the argument that “It’s for flood control” really doesn’t hold water and the criteria for determining lake levels based on flood water capacity obviously needs to be reviewed.

Flooding and taxes aside, every individual in the counties surrounding North Idaho waterways should be nervous because there is an economic impact potential to lower lake levels. The local economy survives largely on tourism; both winter recreation with the ski area along with thousands of trails for snowmobiling and summer recreation for water, mountain and river hiking, fishing, boating, etc. People come here because of the activities and amazing beauty. They spend their money, then they go home.

The question we have to ask ourselves is this: Would the draw be the same if the BPA and corps told us we only have two months at levels of 2062.5 feet? Based on the story that Nick Ivie of the Priest River Times did, one person, for the most part, makes an arbitrary decision as to when lake levels move toward that level. One person and two government agencies control the economic vitality of our region. Doesn’t that make you nervous? It scares the heck out of me for the simple fact that I make my living off of reporting the news and helping local businesses market themselves to gain market share.

This is a plain and simple argument. The BPA makes a lot of money off of its ability to generate power during peak consumption abroad. To generate power during peak consumption requires control, by the BPA, of lake levels for water flowing through dams. It’s going to take a ground swell of local involvement to hold the BPA and corps more accountable in lake levels. Hold to the six-month levels as dictated directed.

Apathy is the reason things are done to citizens. Involvement is the reason things are done with and for citizens. So many times we complain after holding an apathetic attitude for something we know will ultimately affect us. Let’s not be apathetic in our resolve to control our lake levels.

Jim McKiernan is publisher of the Bonner County Daily Bee.