One of the many perks of North Idaho is the four defined seasons we get to experience every year. Spring brings us flowers and sunshine, summer brings us long days full of adventure, in fall we watch the leaves change, and in winter we enjoy a multitude of snow sports. The challenges of winter, though, include walking and driving conditions. To combat snow and ice, the City of Coeur d’Alene has an annual snow plan, approved each year by City…
The following reflection was written and delivered by Post Falls resident, Jamie Esler, as part of Boise State University’s “Idaho Listens” event held at the Hagadone Event Center this past October. To learn more about Idaho Listens, or to watch all of the local speakers from the Coeur d’Alene Event, visit https://www.boisestate.edu/americanvalues/idaho-listens/ What do you value and why? The two of us sat on the ground within a few feet of each other but the berries were so thick we…
By Greta Gissel, Executive Director Connect Kootenai COEUR D’ ALENE, ID – According to a study just released by the Coeur d’Alene Area Economic Development Corporation, Panhandle Affordable Housing Alliance, and the University of Idaho titled “Next Steps: The Updated Housing Availability and Affordability Study,” Kootenai County from 2010 to 2020 experienced 17.3% growth, making it the third fastest growing county in Idaho. From 2021 to 2022, Idaho grew 1.82% making it the second fastest growing state in the country….
The health of Coeur d’Alene Lake and its trajectory have received a lot of attention over the last few years. Recently the conversation has centered around two tandem efforts: 1) the National Academy of Science’s (NAS) review of lake data and recommendations for future lake management, and 2) Gov. Brad Little’s Leading Idaho Initiative for Coeur d’Alene Lake. Both efforts were spurred by recent data reports of lake water quality trends that showed key indicators (including phosphorus, a nutrient in…
In 1983, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) listed the Bunker Hill Mining and Metallurgical Complex in Northern Idaho as a Superfund site due to the high level of heavy metals that had been released into the environment by mining operations. The initial Bunker Hill remediation (clean-up) area was restricted to a 21 square mile area around Kellogg called “The Box.” In 2002, EPA released an Interim Record of Decision, officially expanding the scope of the clean-up to the…
By Erin Whorton, NRCS Water Supply Specialist | July 30, 2023 After the past few years of drought in Idaho, the wet winter was a welcome relief for many Idahoans. However, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) map, dry conditions still linger in northern Idaho. With 40% of Idaho lands experiencing drought conditions this summer, you may be wondering how drought maps are decided. The USDM map classifies drought conditions under six intensity categories. Normal indicates a lack of drought, while…
Submitted by The Idaho State Department of Agriculture All watercraft in Idaho must have an Invasive Species Fund sticker prior to launching on Idaho waters, so what is so important about this sticker? The stickers are sold by the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, the funds then go directly to the Idaho Department of Agriculture’s Invasive Species Program. The Idaho Invasive Species Program actively works to protect what we know and love about Idaho’s waters and lands. The program…
Beginning in 2021, Idaho Governor Brad Little began allocating funds for projects that reduce phosphorus loading to Coeur d’Alene Lake under the Leading Idaho Initiative. Since then, a total of $33 million has been allocated for this purpose. Governor Little appointed the Coeur d’Alene Lake Advisory Committee (CLAC) to oversee the allocation of these funds and tasked them with selecting projects from the pool of applications that were expected to effectively improve Coeur d’Alene Lake’s water quality. This was on…
This story was written by Guest author: Craig Nelson on behalf of the Our Gem Collaborative team for the CDA Press on Sunday, May 7, 2023. Read the original article. Idaho is well-recognized for its scenic streams, rivers and lakes, with abundant water recreation opportunities that attract visitors from around the globe. In order to assure that Idaho’s water bodies remain clean and available for swimming, fishing and domestic water supply, continuous monitoring and evaluation are needed. Idaho Department of Environmental…
This story was written by Graham Freeman on behalf of the Our Gem Collaborative team for the CDA Press on Sunday, April 23, 2023. Read the original article. The Idaho Governor’s Office of Species Conservation (OSC) is dedicated to planning, coordinating and implementing the State’s actions to preserve, protect and restore species listed as candidate, threatened or endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). This work is done in coordination with the State’s natural resource agencies and with input from…