Piece of Coeur d'Alene River WMA closed to motorized use

A swath of Coeur d’Alene River Wildlife Management Area west of Medimont has been closed to motorized boat traffic.

Idaho Fish and Game closed the Gray’s Meadow segment of the Coeur d’Alene River WMA — a swath of lowland on the south side of the river stretching from State Highway 3 to the northwest corner of Lamb Mountain west of Harrison — against public use of motorized watercraft on a year-round basis.

Fish and Game responded to public requests for non-motorized hunting and other recreational opportunities at the site. After an initial proposal and receiving public feedback at a meeting in Medimont last month, the department opted to close beginning Oct. 1, the Gray’s Meadow segment to all motorized watercraft, while not restricting motorized use on the Black Rock Slough segment of the WMA.

— Ralph Bartholdt