The Big Burn of 1910 Ranger

OUR GEM Ashes in the Current: The Hidden Hydrologic Legacy of the 1910 Fire

By Mark Getscher, hydrogeologist for the Coeur d’Alene Tribe More than a century after “The Big Burn” of 1910 scorched over three million acres across northern Idaho and western Montana, its legacy continues to flow through the streams and rivers of the Coeur d’Alene Basin. While most remember the fire for its devastation and heroism, far fewer realize its silent and lingering impact on water quality. High-intensity wildfires combust vegetation and organic soil layers, converting them into ash. This ash is…

Xeriscape

OUR GEM: Water Smart

by William Rettig, Water Efficiency Specialist for the City of Spokane North Idaho summers are made for being outside, whether that’s cooling off in Coeur d’Alene Lake, hiking in the mountains, or tending to the yard, it’s impossible to spend too much time outdoors. But, when it comes to watering your lawn, more isn’t always better. Most people water too much, gaining little benefit for their grass and skyrocketing their utility bills. On average, lawns only need one inch of…

Photo showing a thick plume of sediment entering Hayden Lake from upslope construction activities

OUR GEM: Hold Your Ground! A case for good construction site planning

OUR GEM: Hold Your Ground! A case for good construction site planning Erosion control is a critical aspect of responsible site development, especially in areas with steep terrain and heavy precipitation, which is often the case in North Idaho. This case study highlights the challenges faced during the development of a hillside property near Hayden Lake and the efforts to address consequences of inadequate initial planning. Background In 2021, two properties on the hillside above Hayden Lake underwent development for…

Hikers on Tubbs Hill Trail

OUR GEM: Help Keep Tubbs Healthy

If I asked you how many people use Tubbs Hill each year, what would you guess? A few years ago, the city’s estimate was about 30,000.  The Tubbs Hill Foundation has noticed a marked increase in trail wear in recent years. We work closely with the city of Coeur d’Alene Parks Department, and in 2022 they purchased a trail counter. In the first six months, it recorded over 155,000 counts of people. After a full year, we had over 364,000….

Pack River 2024

OUR GEM: Understanding TMDLs and Restoring Water Quality in Idaho

Written by Jade Clickenbeard, Watershed Analyst for the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality Water quality is essential for the health of Idaho’s communities, ecosystems, and economies. Unfortunately, many of the region’s rivers, lakes, and streams face water quality issues, often related to pollution from agriculture, urban runoff, and legacy mine waste contamination. In Idaho, the Clean Water Act (CWA) provides a framework for addressing these challenges, and one of the key tools used to restore impaired water bodies is the…

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…

Photo Courtesy: Jade Clinkenbeard

OUR GEM: Innovative Land Use, Applying No-Damage Principles Across Ranching and Forestry

Author, Jade Clinkenbeard, Watershed Analyst, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality In May of this year, we explored one rancher’s innovative approach to no-damage cattle ranching in the Coeur d’Alene basin. But Albert Walsh doesn’t limit his no-damage philosophy to cattle ranching; he applies it across various restoration, forestry, and land use activities. On his property in the Cataldo Slough area, Walsh has installed post-assisted debris structures to transform a former dry grass field into an area that slows runoff, holds…

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: 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…