Local Gem Awards

Local Gem Awards

This story was written by the Our Gem Collaborative team for the CDA Press on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020. Read the original article. The Local Gem Award Program is hosted by the Coeur d’Alene Regional Chamber of Commerce Natural Resources Committee in partnership with Our Gem Collaborative. Our purpose is to recognize those in the Coeur d’Alene Basin who work to protect water quality through actions such as implementing low impact development, dedication to water quality education and using proper Best…

Where Does Stormwater Go in Winter?

Where Does Stormwater Go in Winter?

This story was written by the Our Gem Collaborative team for the CDA Press on Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020. Read the original article. Winter snow is a particularly big topic for the city of Coeur d’Alene and local highway districts. You may not think much of it when you’re navigating winter weather, but snow is precipitation which becomes stormwater to be managed. Plowed snow can contain pollutants such as salt, sand, oil, grease, heavy metals and trash which can accumulate in…

When Leaves Fall, So Can Lake Oxygen Levels

When Leaves Fall, So Can Lake Oxygen Levels

Nutrient-rich foliage should be diverted from our waterways. This story was written by the Our Gem Collaborative team for the CDA Press on Nov. 8, 2020. Read the original article. While autumn is an especially spectacular season in North Idaho, the colorful leaves decorating our trees can threaten our lakes and rivers once they fall to the ground. Organic debris contains high levels of nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen which can impair water quality. Phosphorus and nitrogen are essential nutrients,…

A Brief History of Wastewater Treatment in Coeur d’Alene

A Brief History of Wastewater Treatment in Coeur d’Alene

Over a century, the city added more than 200 miles of pipes and three levels of treatment to make our water clean. This story was written by Mike Anderson, superintendent of the City of Coeur d’Alene Wastewater Utility Department, in partnership with the Our Gem Collaborative. It appeared in the CDA Press on Sunday Oct. 18, 2020. Read the original article. As a community grows, so too does the need to treat the byproducts of people living close to one another….

Is your boat ready for winter?

Is Your Boat Ready for Winter?

Finish the season strong with these steps for optimal protection of both your watercraft and our watershed. This story was written by the Our Gem Collaborative team for the CDA Press on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020. Read the original article. Each fall when the Bay Watchers field season ends, the team prepares to winterize the University of Idaho research boat, just as local boaters plan for the same. To prevent your beloved summer craft from freezing damage, here are some strategies…

Bay Watchers Keep an Eye on Coeur d’Alene Lake

Bay Watchers Keep an Eye on Coeur d’Alene Lake

More citizen scientists needed for lake ambassador program This story was written by the Our Gem Collaborative team for the CDA Press on Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020. Read the original article. Along the shores of Coeur d’Alene Lake, citizen scientists are keeping a close eye and detailed log of changes in the water. “Living here and watching the effects of growth and development on Coeur d’Alene Lake for seventy years, I’ve been alarmed by what’s happening,” said Dr. Bob McFarland, who…

Aquatic Invasive Species

Help Prevent the Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species

Nearly 300 mussel-fouled boats discovered across Idaho in the last decade This story was written by the Our Gem Collaborative team for the CDA Press on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020. Read the original article. Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are plants, animals and other organisms introduced by humans to new waterways. They cause harm to our environment and economy. AIS invade aquatic ecosystems beyond their natural and historic range, often outcompeting native species because they have no natural predators to limit their…

Let’s Make It Clear: Clean Drinking Water Is A Community Responsibility

Let’s Make It Clear: Clean Drinking Water Is A Community Responsibility

This story was written by the Our Gem Collaborative team for the CDA Press on Sunday, July 19, 2020. Read the original article. Most people take clean drinking water for granted. We assume the water coming out of the faucet is safe. If you live in a community with a public water system, the water is tested regularly for contamination. However, if you use a private well or pump surface water for use in your home, it is your responsibility to…

Heavy Metals In Our Watershed

Heavy Metals In Our Watershed

This story was written by the Our Gem Collaborative team for the CDA Press on Sunday, June 21, 2020. Read the original article. The headwaters of the Coeur d’Alene Basin are essential to the success of mining, timber, agriculture and hydropower industries. Mining activities along the South Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River have a significant influence on basin watershed conditions and on the welfare of its inhabitants. From the 1880s to the early 1980s, the Silver Valley was the nation’s…

Better Boating Practices

Better Boating for the Sake of the Lake

This story was written by the Our Gem Collaborative team for the CDA Press on Sunday, May 24, 2020. Read the original article. North Idaho provides abundant recreational activities, which in the warmer months include boating, wake surfing, camping, swimming and fishing. The waterways in the Coeur d’Alene basin are increasingly busy, so preventing water pollution is especially important and our shared responsibility. Let’s continue to enjoy the lake we love and, at the same time, exercise best management practices described…