OUR GEM: Aquifer Protection District Master Plan

OUR GEM: Aquifer Protection District Master Plan

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…

OUR GEM: Kootenai Shoshone Soil & Water Conservation District

OUR GEM: Kootenai Shoshone Soil & Water Conservation District

Author: Karla Freeman, District Administrator (KSSWCD) The Kootenai Shoshone Soil & Water Conservation District (KSSWCD) is one of 50 conservation districts in Idaho. We service the Kootenai and Shoshone County areas. The conservation district is made up of 7 voluntary board members and 1 paid district administrator.  We help farmers, ranchers, private landowners, or community partners with soil and water conservation concerns. The KSSWCD is a public service that is a subdivision of the state, and we work directly with…

Smoke over Hayden Lake

OUR GEM: Smoke on the Water

Authors Krista Bonfantine, postdoctoral fellow with the University of Idaho Pyroaerobiology Lab along with Leda Kobziar, Ph. D. Professor of Wildland Fire Science & Director, Master of Natural Resources With more than a month of diminished air quality due to wildfire smoke this summer, you may be wondering whether smoke impacts extend beyond what we already know about human health- where does the smoke end up? Does it affect ecosystems like Coeur d’Alene Lake? Much more attention has been given to the…

OUR GEM: Citizen Science and Water Quality: The Role of Bay Watchers in Monitoring Coeur d’Alene Lake

OUR GEM: Citizen Science and Water Quality: The Role of Bay Watchers in Monitoring Coeur d’Alene Lake

Coeur d’Alene Lake faces numerous environmental challenges that require ongoing vigilance. One of the key programs in safeguarding the water quality of this lake is the Bay Watchers program. A collaboration between the Idaho Water Resources Research Institute, The Coeur d’Alene Tribe, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, and local volunteers.

Wetland Photo Courtesy: Jade Clinkenbeard

OUR GEM: Ecosystem Services That Wetlands Provide

Author, Meg Wolf- Interim Assistant Director/Idaho Water Resources Research Institute, University of Idaho Wetlands refer to the watery transition zones between surface water and dry land. They can be wet year-round or only during certain parts of the year, such as following spring runoff. Essential parts of a wetland include aquatic plants specifically adapted to live in fully saturated environments. In the Inland Northwest, non-tidal wetlands are prevalent, unlike coastal regions that support tidal wetlands. Nature’s Water Filters Wetlands act…

OUR GEM: Be Smart Around Lead, Play Clean

OUR GEM: Be Smart Around Lead, Play Clean

Guest Author: Mary Rehnborg, Institutional Controls Program Manager for Panhandle Health District Summertime recreation is one of the best parts of living in our area. Swimming, boating, camping, and other outdoor activities are great ways to make lifelong memories with your friends and family. While our region looks like a pristine, beautiful place to recreate, some areas are impacted by the historical mining activities that occurred in the Coeur d’ Alene basin. North Idaho is home to one of the…

photo courtesy University Communications and Marketing Statewide tour 2020

OUR GEM: Exploring a “No Damage” philosophy to Cattle Ranching in the Coeur d’Alene Basin

Guest author: Albert Walsh, Owner/Operator of Castlerock Ranch Alongside the North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River sits Castlerock Ranch. At the turn of the 19th century, the ranch started as a hay farm for working stock in the mines and logging outfits; today it is a grazing operation for grass finished cattle and an event venue. Albert Walsh and his wife Jordan took over operations in 2014 and were faced with a lower crop yield for their cattle despite…

OUR GEM: Re-MEMBER-ing the Kootenai Environmental Alliance

OUR GEM: Re-MEMBER-ing the Kootenai Environmental Alliance

By Cynthia Rozyla, Kootenai Environmental Alliance Board Chair Over the last 50 years, Kootenai Environmental Alliance (KEA) has been a leader in environmental activism, advocacy, and education in conserving, protecting and restoring North Idaho. When it comes to Our Gem, KEA has been and will continue to be a voice for Coeur d’Alene Lake and all the water resources of this wonderful part of the country. As with many non-profits, we have had our ups and downs through COVID, staff…

OUR GEM: Healthy Soils Protect Our Water

OUR GEM: Healthy Soils Protect Our Water

By Joni Kindwall-Moore Public awareness about soil health has increased in recent years, and more people from outside of ranching and farming communities have learned about the role that soil plays in our world. Since the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, government entities like the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) have been implementing soil health initiatives. Understanding the complex interactions between soil, human health, and environmental quality is essential for sustainable land and water management. Many natural processes occur in…