Putting an emphasis on safety in the North Fork
Courtesy photo This sign near Teton, Idaho, is very similar to what Shoshone County will be installing near the Bumblebee Bridge on the North Fork of the Coeur d'Alene River. The sign is just another part of the Respect the River campaign sponsored by the Watershed Advisory Group.
The Shoshone Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met with Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (IDEQ) representative Kajsa Van De Riet to approve the installation of an informational sign along the North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River as part of the Respect the River campaign.
Over the years Van De Riet as well as the Watershed Advisory Group (WAG) believes that the Respect the River (RTR) signs have helped reduced the amount of garbage in and around the river, but the group believes there are things they can do better.
The North Fork area of the Shoshone County is an incredibly popular area during the summer months as locals and vacationers alike flock to the area for some weekend camping or the occasional river float.
Van De Riet believes that more informational signage can help educate the public on the dangers of pollution, inform them on the various species of fish inhabiting the waterways, as well as have maps available for navigating the area.
“We'll be including educational information about fish that can be found in the North Fork, especially cutthroat trout. We're also hoping to include a map,” Van De Riet stated.
Van De Riet was thrilled with the approval and now the plan will move along as quickly as materials and funds become available.
“They approved the sign and we are firming up plans for this summer's RTR cleanup,” Van De Riet said. “Now we just need to finalize the sign's design, make sure we have enough funds, and get it put together.”
Avista Utilities has pledged funds to help cover the cost and Shoshone County will help with the installation and regular maintenance.
“Avista is giving $1,000 to build the sign,” Commissioner Jay Huber said. “The county is going to put it up and maintain it.”
As far as the location of the sign is concerned, the BOCC and Van De Riet decided to put the sign in one of the more popular North Fork recreational areas.
“We are going to put it up by the bathroom at the Bumblebee Bridge on the old side of the river next to the bathroom,” Huber said.
The strategic location of the sign coincides with the BOCC’s desire to see the area operate in a more safe and efficient way.
“The commissioners told me they want to emphasize parking rules this summer,” Van De Riet said. “They said people are parking on the pavement of the roadway too much and blocking traffic. Those people will be risking getting their vehicle towed in order to keep the roads clear.” Shoshone County Sheriff Mike Gunderson has already set in place measures to ensure that these rules are being enforced under his watch, which will most likely increase during the busy summer months.
“We will have increased patrols that started last weekend on the Coeur d’Alene River Road,” Gunderson said. “The roadways will be freshly marked no parking and we will be adding more signage especially from the Bumblebee Bridge area to Alberts. Vehicles will be towed if found parked in these areas or on the pavement. Please slow down and mind the posted speed limits as well.”
As mentioned before, the sign will be installed as soon as the design is completed and the funds are gathered, but with all of these changes the North Fork area will safer than ever this summer.