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…

Conservation Easements: “Forever” Protection in the Coeur d’Alene Basin

Conservation Easements: “Forever” Protection in the Coeur d’Alene Basin

Guest author: Carol Corbin, Director of Philanthropy and Communications (INLC) The Inland Northwest Land Conservancy (INLC) is a regional land trust, serving Eastern Washington and North Idaho and our mission is to conserve, care for, and connect with lands and waters essential to life in the Inland Northwest. We envision a future of interconnected natural habitats throughout the Inland Northwest, supporting thriving populations of native plants and wildlife. INLC–and other organizations like it–protect land through agreements called “conservation easements. “Conservation…

Citizen Coordinating Council

OUR GEM: Citizen Coordinating Council

What does citizen engagement mean? According to Robert Langley, a retired urban planning professional, it means participation in “activities intended to improve the quality of life in one’s community by addressing issues of public concern…and developing the knowledge and skills needed to address those issues (Longley, Robert. “What Is Civic Engagement? Definition and Examples.” ThoughtCo, Oct. 4, 2022, thoughtco.com/what-is-civic-engagement-definition-and-examples-5072704).” Citizen engagement can provide meaningful input for decision-making and project implementation.  Decision makers realize public involvement and awareness is important –…

De-ice Trucks, Photo courtesy of The City of Coeur d’Alene

OUR GEM: Ice Deice Baby!

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…

What do you value and why?

What do you value and why?

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…