Shoreline Protection

Overview

An encroachment for regulatory purposes is defined as any structure on, in or above submerged lands or waters of the Coeur d'Alene Reservation. Among the nearly 535 encroachments within the Reservation boundary some you may see on Coeur d'Alene Lake, Black Lake and the St. Joseph River include structures such as docks, piers, float homes, boat garages, jetties, floats, pilings, breakwaters, boat ramps, channels, basins, fills, dikes, power lines, and sea walls. A dock is one that for many carries special importance and is a very valued piece of waterfront living. It is more than just a place to park the boat, it is also a place for fishing, swimming, sunbathing, family gathering and relaxing and just a few of the reasons many are drawn to a waterfront lifestyle.

In recognition of these realities, the Coeur d'Alene Tribe extends the privilege of keeping a dock on Tribal Waters to our neighbors who own waterfront property. This privilege is also granted to secondary lot owners who are members of previously established homeowner associations. This use, including all structures, of Tribal Waters and submerged lands within the Reservation Boundary must be permitted through the Coeur d'Alene Tribe Shoreline Protection Program.

The Shoreline Protection section of this web site provides information on Tribal Jurisdiction, the Goals of Tribal Regulation, and Individual Encroachment Information such as Encroachment Description, Guidelines for Change of Ownership, General Standards for new and existing encroachments, and applications for upgrade or repair of existing encroachments.