In the Spotlight
BLM Proposes Webcams at Two Popular Recreation Sites: The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Coeur d’Alene District seeks to install live-streaming weather resistant video cameras at two of our most popular recreation parking areas – Mineral Ridge boat launch, located near Beauty Bay, and Blackwell Island boat launch, along the Spokane River. Installation of the cameras will help promote public safety, provide assistance in targeting vandalism, offering the user a real-time view of the parking situation and thereby improving the facilities for users.
Two cameras would be installed at the Blackwell launch and one at the Mineral launch. These extremely popular sites draw users from across the Inland Northwest, yet each has limited parking capacity that can often cause frustration for potential users. Both offer primary access to Lake Coeur d’Alene and are managed by the BLM. Installation of a live-streaming video, accessible through the BLM’s Coeur d’Alene Field Office website, would offer potential users the ability to preview the parking conditions at the Blackwell Island launch and the Mineral Ridge launch. Utilizing a live-streaming video through a webpage would help users determine launch plans and avoid extensive travel to a site that is already at capacity.
Video cameras would also provide security and safety monitoring. There have been incidents of vandalism at each of the locations and installation of the cameras could help track events and potentially mitigate them.
The Blackwell Island Boat Launch opened in 2003 and was intended to help reduce overcrowding at area boat launch facilities on Lake Coeur d’Alene. The site offers boaters four launch lanes, 130 vehicle-with-trailer parking spaces, 34 single vehicle parking spaces and 520 linear feet of boarding and short term moorage dock. This premier site served over 32,000 visitors in 2011. During the summer months, the BLM has often had to close the parking lot at Blackwell Island by noon on weekends due capacity being reached. There is currently no way for potential users to check parking conditions and often they travel a substantial distance to reach the site, only to find out it is full.
The Mineral Ridge Boat Launch is a popular fishing access site on the east end of Coeur d'Alene Lake with a concrete launching ramp, docks and asphalt surfaced parking area. Parking is limited and often fills not only during the summer months, but through peak fishing seasons. (Contact: Suzanne Endsley, ph. 208-769-5004)
Killarney Boat Launch closed for repairs
Recreation Access Map-Rochat Divide/Pine Creek Area now available online
Enjoy Your BLM Lands Responsibly. Steelhead and big game hunting season are here in northern Idaho. Salmon fishing season is right around the corner! A day spent hunting or simply enjoying the great outdoors on lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) should be filled with great memories. The BLM wants to help ensure that your time spent on our national public lands continues to be a rewarding experience. Please note some of the common mistakes outdoor recreationists make and avoid spoiling a great day outdoors. Read news article
Limited Services Available at BLM Recreation Sites. Planning an afternoon hike to take advantage of great fall weather? Maybe some late season camping? If so, please be aware of seasonal closures underway at Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recreation sites throughout northern Idaho. Read news article
Blackwell Island Boat Launch Closed for the Season. Autumn has settled into northern Idaho, bringing with it the end of the summer boating season on Lake Coeur d’Alene. Sunday, October 16, was the final day that the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Blackwell Island boat launch was open for public use. The popular launch site, located on the south side of the Spokane River, has been in operation for nine seasons and each summer attracts more and more boaters. Read news article
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