SANDPOINT — In a Friday vote, board members of the Lake Pend Oreille, Pend Oreille River, Priest Lake and Priest River Commission committed to funding an economic impact study for Lake Pend Oreille. 

The study, which is expected to be delivered this summer, will be conducted by researchers at the University of Idaho and Washington State University and will articulate the lake’s role in the local economy.

The Lakes Commission will provide $35,000 to fund one half of the project. The remaining $35,000 will be paid by the University of Idaho. 

Lakes Commission Chair Ford Elsaesser told attendees he hoped the study would illustrate the lake’s benefits and the need for a reliable lake level throughout the recreation season. 

“It's a continuous struggle to get a full season, and we believe that there are serious economic impacts that result from that,” Elsaesser said. 

For their support of an economic study and efforts in bringing the opportunity to fruition, Elsaesser thanked District 1 Sen. Jim Woodward and Rep. Mark Sauter, who emphasized Lake Pend Oreille’s importance during the meeting. 

“Our belief is that the lake level directly impacts our local economy,” Sauter said. 

“To have a third party look at this is really exciting,” he added. “We're excited to get some real science and math.” 

The meeting also featured an update on the ongoing repair and replacement projects at Albeni Falls Dam, which controls the level of Lake Pend Oreille. 

Taylor Johnson, chief of natural resources with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, said the timeline for designing new spillway gates for the dam has been accelerated by two months; Johnson expects the design to be complete by July. 

The need to replace the dam’s gates became apparent when a defect in the No. 3 gate was discovered during routine maintenance in April 2024. All 10 gates at the site have outlived their intended lifespan; USACE is aiming to replace them stepwise starting in 2027. 

To keep community members informed as the project moves forward, Johnson said USACE intends to host a late-April public meeting in Sandpoint. Further details will be announced.