land use

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…

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…

This story was written by Guest author: Mary Rehnborg on behalf of the Our Gem Collaborative team for the CDA Press on Sunday, January 1, 2023. Read the original article. The history of the Bunker Hill Superfund Site (BHSS) is a long and complicated one. Cleanup of legacy mine waste throughout the site began in the late 1980s and continues today. But cleanup isn’t so easy at the BHSS. Several factors limited the types of remedial options available here. Factors such…

This story was written by the Our Gem Collaborative team for the CDA Press on Sunday, November 20, 2022. Read the original article. It takes a village to manage our local natural resources. Luckily, we have some outstanding community members who work tirelessly to do just that. With all the good work being done in the area, there is a need to ensure their work is shared and coordinated with others. The Coeur d’Alene Regional Chamber has a committee for professionals,…

Written by David Callahan, Director of Kootenai County Development Idaho is the fastest growing state in the nation, and Kootenai County is the third fastest growing county in the state. This new growth is mostly occurring over the Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer, where the use of septic systems is common for any development located in the unincorporated county. Increased numbers of septic systems over the aquifer, if not adequately spaced, can significantly deteriorate the aquifer’s water quality. Why does this matter?…

This story was written by the Our Gem Collaborative team for the CDA Press on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. Read the original article. You might be witnessing more moose than usual visiting our urbanized areas and partaking in our tasty ornamental plants and shrubs this winter. Why have we seen such an increase lately? Of all the deer species, moose are the most reliant on browsing for forage. This means that they primarily target tree and shrub species as opposed to…