By: Kootenai County Aquifer Protection District Advisory Board
Growth happens. It’s been happening a lot in Kootenai County. In 1970, 35,332 people lived here. By 2022, the population increased to 183,578, and by 2045, some projections indicate that over 319,000 people may live here. A look at the Rathdrum Prairie over the last 20 years shows a steady infill with housing developments, apartment complexes, commercial and other enterprises.
The customs, culture, and beauty of our region make it a destination for families, new businesses, and retirees. This growth has sparked passionate debate, with protection of water quality being a leading concern.
The primary source of drinking water for residents in Kootenai County and Spokane County comes from the geologically magnificent and life sustaining Spokane Valley Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer (SVRPA). The SVRPA is an extremely high-quality source that, once pumped from the ground, requires no additional treatment before drinking. Recognizing there is no equivalent water supply that can supply this region more economically, the Environmental Protection Agency designated the SVRPA as a Sole Source Aquifer in 1978.
The Idaho portion of the SVRPA is known as the Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer (RPA) and covers roughly 211 square miles. In alignment with the federal Sole Source designation, the State of Idaho and Kootenai County recognize the value and importance of this resource to our area.
Idaho and Kootenai County formalized their commitment to protection of the RPA through its designation as a Sensitive Resource Aquifer in 1996 by the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (IDEQ). Kootenai County voters approved their Commissioners to form the Aquifer Protection District (APD) in 2006.
Funding for APD comes from an annual parcel fee. APD works with IDEQ, Panhandle Health District, the County, municipalities, and others to protect the RPA’s water quality. APD provides funding to these partners for efforts that: prevent hazardous and other waste from polluting the Aquifer; provide education and outreach to students and adults about both the sensitivity of the Aquifer and how to protect it; and provide on-going water quality monitoring and research. Additionally, APD works diligently to identify gaps in existing regulations that leave the RPA vulnerable and facilitate inter-agency coordination and collaboration.
In 2022, rising growth spurned the APD to create a Master Plan to prioritize protection activities. The Master Plan was approved and adopted by Kootenai County Commissioners in 2024 and builds on APD’s past work.
A high priority identified in the Master Plan was delineation and protection of Sensitive Aquifer Recharge Areas (SARAs). These are areas where the RPA is at greatest risk for pollution to enter from the surface. Protection of these areas may take the form of acquiring property or adopting land use and development conditions.
Another major priority for APD has been support of Panhandle Health District in their discussions with the County and municipalities to reinstate aquifer protection measures that were recently lost at the state level. These protective measures ensure that businesses store and dispose of chemicals properly while also meeting sewer management needs. APD will continue to support our regulatory agencies, while also working to expand outreach and education, research and monitoring, and agency coordination.
APD is the community’s champion for aquifer protection. With the community’s continued trust and support, the Master Plan gives us the guidance to protect our precious Aquifer.
