The Tribe’s Lake Management Department was formed by the Coeur d’Alene Tribal Council in March 2003. This formation was the official acknowledgement that the Tribe’s jurisdiction over waters within the Reservation boundaries (i.e. Tribal Waters) had been reaffirmed by the United States District and Supreme Courts, and that the Tribe has the responsibility to manage and protect these waters. The organization of this Department was that it would fall under the direct supervision of the Administrative Director and would, thus, not fall within the existing Natural Resources Department. Initial Department responsibilities were to include management of encroachments into the Tribal waters and recreation on Tribal waters (including operation and maintenance of the new Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes). The Department Director was also designated as lead contact in the Avista / Spokane River Project dam relicensing effort. Potential future areas of Lake Management Department responsibility may include lake improvements, safe boating education and lake-related events and activities.
