View of Pend Orielle River between Dover and Laclede.

OUR GEM: IWRRI funds strategic Idaho water research

New investments support collaborative science across Idaho’s public universities to improve water data, quality and long-term resource management statewide The Idaho Water Resources Research Institute (IWRRI) has prioritized and is backing several research projects involving the state’s three public research universities to address Idaho’s pressing water challenges. Established in 1964, IWRRI is one of 54 U.S. water research and technology centers, conducting and directing research to support the water resource needs of the state and entire Northwestern U.S. In fall…

View of Rathdrum Prairie from Rathdrum Mountain

OUR GEM: Understanding Aquifer Protection Through a Practitioner’s Lens

Author, Karla Freeman, Kootenai-Shoshone Soil and Water Conservation District Manager As communities across the Inland Northwest face increasing drought, population growth, and changing hydrologic conditions, discussions about water supply and water quality are becoming more frequent—and more technical. To help ground these discussions in local context, it is useful to hear from practitioners who work directly with land, water, and agricultural systems and who regularly engage with scientists, regulators, and landowners. One such practitioner is Laurin Scarcello. Scarcello has recently…

OUR GEM: Aquifer Model Updates for the Spokane Valley Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer

OUR GEM: Aquifer Model Updates for the Spokane Valley Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer

Guest authored by Suzanne Scheidt, Idaho Washington Aquifer Collaborative Board President The Idaho Washington Aquifer Collaborative (IWAC) is a collaborative of Spokane and Kootenai County water purveyors (managers) drawing from the Spokane Valley Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer (SVRPA) and partnering in the shared stewardship of the Spokane Valley Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer and the Spokane River watershed.     IWAC sponsored an Aquifer Education Training Course on Wednesday, September 24th at the Spokane County Water Resource Center. The morning class provided an update…

Spokane River

OUR GEM: Why the Spokane Ran Low and What It Means for the Future

Guest Authored by: Katelyn Scott, Spokane Riverkeeper Water Protector This summer, we saw stretches of the Spokane River run alarmingly low, and even completely dry. In some places, the thriving waterway we know and love completely disappeared. While it may feel sudden, there are clear reasons behind this—and a vision of how, together, we can keep water flowing in the future. The Spokane River and the Spokane Valley–Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer are two parts of the same system, constantly exchanging water….

An offload pad sloped to drain any spilled material to the main containment. Photo provided by Panhandle Health.

OUR GEM: The Critical Materials Program Protects our Aquifer

By: Jenny Gray, Panhandle Health Aquifer Protection Program Coordinator North Idaho is home to some breathtakingly beautiful bodies of water. The area’s most important water resource, however, is one we cannot readily see, as it lies beneath our feet – the Spokane Valley – Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer (SVRPA). The SVRPA covers roughly 370 square miles in northern Idaho and eastern Washington and is composed of Ice Age flood-deposited gravels, cobbles, and boulders. It is an unconfined aquifer, meaning no continuous…

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: Surveys Show Kootenai County Residents Prioritize Open Space Preservation

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….

Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer Protection District Protecting Our Priceless Water Supply

This story was written by the Our Gem Collaborative team for the CDA Press on Sunday, April 4, 2021. Read the original article. The Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie (SVRP) aquifer covers about 370 square miles in northern Idaho and eastern Washington. It is composed of ice age flood deposited gravels, cobbles, and boulders and is filled with water. The SVRP aquifer is considered unconfined, meaning it has no protective layer of clay or rock above it to keep out pollutants that are…