agencies plan marine training exercise
A U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary boat is pictured on Lake Pend Oreille during a recent patrol of the lake which spans Bonner and Kootenai counties.
Courtesy photo
|July 30, 2026 1:00 AM
HOPE — An upcoming training exercise by the Lake Pend Oreille Coast Guard Auxiliary flotilla and partner agencies aims to sharpen coordination and response procedures for assisting boaters in distress on Lake Pend Oreille.
Hosted by the local U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, the training exercise will likely include members of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary’s Northwest District and various local, state and federal agencies
While the Coast Guard Auxiliary’s primary mission is to promote and improve recreational boating safety, Auxiliary members are occasionally called upon to assist various agencies in responding to incidents involving boaters on the lake, said Tom Barnes, operations and public affairs officer for U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 87 in Sandpoint
“Exercises like this one help ensure that when a real emergency occurs, responding agencies can work together quickly and safely,” he said
The exercise, known as the Eastern Area Unity Training Exercise, will involve realistic, simulated emergency scenarios intended to test coordination, communication, and response capabilities among participating agencies, Barnes said. The event is designed to mirror the demands of a busy Fourth of July weekend, when lake traffic is at its peak.
“This training is important because it is designed to practice and refine procedures for assisting boaters in need on Lake Pend Oreille,” said Michael Meline, Lake Pend Oreille flotilla commander, said
Possible training scenarios include a minor boating collision in a congested area, heat-related medical emergencies, a swimmer in distress and mechanical failure of a vessel out on the lake. Other options include crews needing to respond to a report of passengers entering the water following a vessel fire and search and rescue operations for a missing swimmer
Exercise operations will be staged from the Clark Fork Driftwood Yard, located between mileposts 60 and 61 on Highway 200, approximately 6.5 miles east of Hope
Boaters and other members of the public near the exercise area are asked to maintain a safe distance from participating vessels and to be aware of increased boat and radio traffic throughout the day. The simulated radio traffic and staged scenarios are part of a planned training exercise and do not indicate an actual emergency, Barnes said
In the event of severe weather or unsafe lake conditions, the exercise will be rescheduled.
The public may follow radio communications related to the simulated incidents on Marine VHF Channels 21A and 22A. Residents may also observe exercise activities on the lake throughout the day, Barnes and Meline said
Flotilla Lake Pend Oreille is a public service organization supporting the U.S. Coast Guard, Sector Puget Sound in Seattle, Washington. As a unit, we serve Lake Pend Oreille, the Pend Oreille River, and Priest Lake. In addition to supporting the Coast Guard, the flotilla also provides on-water support to the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office, Marine Division, through marine patrols
On occasion, Flotilla Lake Pend Oreille provides safety patrol support for swim events on Lake Coeur d’Alene and various boating events on certain sections of the Columbia River
The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is the uniformed civilian volunteer component of the U.S. Coast Guard, supporting the Coast Guard’s mission through recreational boating safety education, vessel safety checks, and operational support such as this exercise.
Individuals interested in volunteering can learn more at cgaux.org or by contacting Beverly Hannibal, Flotilla 130-08-07 at 509-951-9191, or [email protected]
