SANDPOINT - A flood-related no-wake zone is in effect on Lake Pend Oreille and the Pend Oreille and Clark Fork rivers.

The temporary rule extends the existing 200-foot no-wake zone to 500 feet from shore in order to protect waterfront lands from erosion. The rule also applies to the Priest River, but not Priest Lake.

The rule effectively renders the rivers no-wake zones due to the narrowness of the waterways.

The temporary rule went into effect when the lake reached the action stage of 2,062.6 feet. The lake's flood stage is 2,063.5 feet.

The lake was at 2,064.04 feet on Tuesday, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Bonner County commissioners adopted a resolution enacting the rule instead of drafting an ordinance, which requires a public notice and hearing process. Commissioners opted for a resolution for practical and philosophical reasons.

It would have taken too long to implement the rule via ordinance, and the board and commissioners said they were more interested in educating the boating public rather than issuing citations.

The resolution does not carry the force of law. However, defiant boaters can still be ticketed under the Idaho Safe Boating Act, a provision of which prohibits boaters from operating at a speed in conditions that can damage other vessels, shoreline infrastructure and property.

"If somebody just doesn't get the point, they can fall back on the state statute and use that," said Commissioner Mike Nielsen.

Commission Chairman Lewie Rich said there are always a few people out there who create problems for many.

"In this situation with as high as the water is, the erosion effects could be huge and that's what we're trying to avoid," he said.

Flooding forecast

SANDPOINT - Seasonal temperatures, continued snowmelt and the prospect of more rain will keep Lake Pend Oreille at flooding levels, the National Weather Service said on Tuesday.

Weather Service forecasters said the lake level is expected to peak today or Friday around 2,064.3 feet and then begin to fall. The lake is anticipated to remain above flood stage - 2,063.5 feet - until early next week.

Homeowners who are trying to calculate their flood risk are reminded to add 3.87 feet to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and National Weather Service lake elevation reports to determine the corresponding elevation on more precise Federal Emergency Management Agency floodplain insurance rate maps.