Hayden Lake Watershed Improvement District

  • Home
  • The District
    • HLWID – District Matters
      • Improvement District vs. Association – What’s the Difference?
      • Privacy Policy
    • Board of Directors
    • Lake Managers
    • Communication and Public Outreach
    • Monthly Meetings
  • The Watershed
    • Blue-Green Algae
    • Citizen Science
    • HLWID – District Matters
      • Improvement District vs. Association – What’s the Difference?
    • Living on Hayden Lake
      • Rights, Permits, etc.: Who to Contact
      • Lake Debris
    • Invasive & Noxious Weeds
      • Curly-Leaf Pondweed
      • Eurasian Watermilfoil
    • Recreation
    • Water Quality
      • Lake Water Quality Studies
      • Hayden Lake Water Quality
      • Idaho Water Quality Standards & Hayden Lake
      • The Eutrophication of Hayden Lake
    • The Watershed
      • Hayden Lake Watershed
      • Honey Badger Project
      • English Point – a Cherished Resource
  • News
  • Contact Us
  • Home
  • The District
    • HLWID – District Matters
      • Improvement District vs. Association – What’s the Difference?
      • Privacy Policy
    • Board of Directors
    • Lake Managers
    • Communication and Public Outreach
    • Monthly Meetings
  • The Watershed
    • Blue-Green Algae
    • Citizen Science
    • HLWID – District Matters
      • Improvement District vs. Association – What’s the Difference?
    • Living on Hayden Lake
      • Rights, Permits, etc.: Who to Contact
      • Lake Debris
    • Invasive & Noxious Weeds
      • Curly-Leaf Pondweed
      • Eurasian Watermilfoil
    • Recreation
    • Water Quality
      • Lake Water Quality Studies
      • Hayden Lake Water Quality
      • Idaho Water Quality Standards & Hayden Lake
      • The Eutrophication of Hayden Lake
    • The Watershed
      • Hayden Lake Watershed
      • Honey Badger Project
      • English Point – a Cherished Resource
  • News
  • Contact Us
Facebook-f

Rights, Permits, Questions, Concerns: Who to Contact

Are you a landowner in the watershed? Are you interested in developing your property, cutting timber, placing a dock or buoy in the lake, or reporting a problem with a public road? You may wonder who to contact! This list may help you get started.

Public Land vs. Private Land – Where Are the Boundaries?

The ordinary high water (OHW) mark is the level of the lake water on the day that Idaho achieved statehood, July 3, 1890. At 2,239 feet in elevation, it marks the boundary between public and other-property ownership along the lake’s shoreline.  Granted by the federal government, the bed and banks of Hayden Lake below the OHW mark belong to the State of Idaho for public use. The water in the lake is a public resource as well.

Below the Ordinary High Water Mark
If you want to ……

….. then contact:   ____

Install a dock, buoy, retaining wall, pump, water intake line, or any encroachment on the bed or banks of the lake or

Buy or sell lakefront property with an encroachment on the lake

Idaho Department of Lands – Encroachment

(note that Hayden Lake is in the Mica Supervisory Area)

Take water from the lake for use in your home, watering landscaping, agricultural irrigation, small manufacturing, etc.

Idaho Department of Water Resources – Water Rights

Question or report water quality concerns such as blue-green algae, E. Coli, toxins, general water health

Idaho Department of Environmental Quality
Surface Water Quality

Learn about fish and wildlife living in the lake, or report concerns about these

Idaho Department of Fish & Game

Learn about or report the presence of invasive aquatic vegetation (Eurasian Watermilfoil; Curly-leaf Pondweed; etc.) and their treatment or management

Idaho Department of Agriculture
Invasive Species / Noxious Weeds

Private Land Above the Ordinary High Water Mark
If you want to …… ….. then contact:   ____
Change a shoreline, i.e., remove or plant vegetation, add a retaining wall, install a stairway Kootenai County Community Development

See this informative document: Shoreline Management Areas

Change private land subdivision, develop your site, or build on your land Kootenai County Planning Department
Learn about Idaho boating laws or

report problems on the water

Kootenai County Boating Rules and Regulations

call Kootenai County Sheriff’s Marine Division dispatch at 1-208-446-1854

Harvest trees from your private property or effectively care for and manage your private forest Idaho Department of Lands
See the IFP Rules – Idaho Forest Practices Act
Public Services for Private Landowners

Services are provided by districts created and funded by the public under Idaho Code.

  • The Lakes Highway District builds and maintains all public roads around the lake exclusive of the Forest Service Roads.
  • A few water districts draw, treat, and convey water for domestic use to some residences in the watershed.  North Kootenai Water and Sewer District is the largest of these districts, while the other is the Gem Shores Water District.
  • The Hayden Lake Sewer District collects and conveys wastewater to the Hayden Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant for treatment.
  • The Hayden Lake Watershed Improvement District’s mission is to protect and enhance the quality of the water in Hayden Lake and its watershed.
Public Land Above the Ordinary High Water Mark
  • The City of Hayden owns and manages the Honeysuckle Boat Ramp and Beach.
  • The Idaho Department of Fish & Game manages Sportsman Park and Boat Ramp.
  • The Idaho Panhandle Nation Forest division of the US Forest Service manages the majority of the watershed that is located within the boundaries of the Coeur d’Alene National Forest as well as the small parcel on English Point. The Coeur d’Alene River Ranger District manages most activities in these forests.  Administratively, the Forest and Ranger District are part of the Idaho Panhandle National Forests.  The Forest Service maintains a large Forest Road and Trail System that permits access to federal forest land. Their Interactive Visitor Map shows you where the trails are. The forest travel plan dictates which roads and trails are open to selected motorized uses.
Other Agencies and Districts That Provide Advice to Landowners
  • The Hayden Lake Watershed Association is the voice of the people regarding the quality of the water and the environment in the Hayden Lake Watershed.  Read the Homeowner’s Guide to Living on Hayden Lake.
  • The Kootenai-Shoshone Soil Conservation District can provide information for erosion control.
  • The University of Idaho Extension Service is available for consultation on a myriad of issues.

Share this story:

More on Living on Hayden Lake from our BLOG:

Brush pile burning in the IPNF.

Hayden Creek Area Closed to Shooting Oct. 21-27 ’24

Read More »
This is blue-green algae or cyanobacteria on the surface of the water.

Cyanobacteria-HAB Advisory Continues – Watch Out!

Read More »
This is blue-green algae or cyanobacteria on the surface of the water.

Harmful Algal (Cyanobacteria) Bloom: July 27-?

Read More »
Treatment Map segment shows notification areas around treatment polygons.

2024 Hayden Lake Aquatic Weed Update – Treatment – Restrictions Lifted

Read More »

More to Explore:

Categories
  • Blue-Green Algae
  • Citizen Science
  • HLWID
  • Invasive & Noxious Weeds
  • Lake Debris
  • Living on Hayden Lake
  • Recreation
  • The Watershed
  • Water Quality

Home

News From the 'Shed

Hayden Creek Area Closed to Shooting Oct. 21-27 ’24

Cyanobacteria-HAB Advisory Continues – Watch Out!

Harmful Algal (Cyanobacteria) Bloom: July 27-?

More news ...

The District

  • About the HLWID
  • HLWID – District Matters
  • Board of Directors
  • Lake Managers
  • Communication and Public Outreach
  • Monthly Meetings
  • About the HLWID
  • HLWID – District Matters
  • Board of Directors
  • Lake Managers
  • Communication and Public Outreach
  • Monthly Meetings

The Watershed

  • Blue-Green Algae
  • Citizen Science
  • HLWID
  • Lake Debris
  • Living on Hayden Lake
    • Rights, Permits, Questions, Concerns: Who to Contact
      • Invasive & Noxious Weeds
  • Recreation
  • The Watershed
  • Water Quality
  • Blue-Green Algae
  • Citizen Science
  • HLWID
  • Lake Debris
  • Living on Hayden Lake
    • Rights, Permits, Questions, Concerns: Who to Contact
      • Invasive & Noxious Weeds
  • Recreation
  • The Watershed
  • Water Quality

Let's Stay in Touch!

Facebook-f

Sign up for Email Updates

See Our Privacy Policy

Copyright 2025 © All rights reserved, Hayden Lake Watershed Improvement District.

Built using Elementor​​.

Monday 4/16, 7:00 p.m.

HLWID Monthly Meeting

HLWID's Monthly Meetings will move to teleconferencing in order to ensure the health and safety of our constituents. For 4/16's meeting, dial 641-715-0861 and enter code 398963# at the prompt. This is a public meeting; all are welcome.