I attended the McEuen presentation and while the drawings were very impressive, I have serious concerns with the boat launch removal and replacement. The requirement was that moving the Third Street boat launch must equal or better the facilities in location, and number of vehicles to be accommodated. In moving the public boat launch to Silver Beach, you are proposing two (2) launching lanes vs. the existing four to five (4-5). The Third Street launch is a central location for receiving emergency transport for boating accidents and residents living on the lake. Silver Beach does not fit this critical need.

My concerns with safety at Silver Beach include vehicles launching, must cross the Centennial Trail four times. Bicycles, walkers, runners, etc... heavily use this trail. With the proposed 150 parking places, that is a potential of 600 crossings of the Centennial Trail, each day.

The next red flag to me is the ramp itself. It quarters into the lake. I have been told that it is possible to put a breakwater in, but that really would only be good to break wave action. The wind nearly always comes from southwest, which would be quartering into the boat ramps. Having launched and trailered boats many times in windy conditions, it is most difficult to control your boat. The new proposed ramp would not be easily usable to beginning and average boat operators, and would require more time per vehicle at the launch.

DALE DENNIS

Coeur d'Alene