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…

Smoke over Hayden Lake

OUR GEM: Smoke on the Water

Authors Krista Bonfantine, postdoctoral fellow with the University of Idaho Pyroaerobiology Lab along with Leda Kobziar, Ph. D. Professor of Wildland Fire Science & Director, Master of Natural Resources With more than a month of diminished air quality due to wildfire smoke this summer, you may be wondering whether smoke impacts extend beyond what we already know about human health- where does the smoke end up? Does it affect ecosystems like Coeur d’Alene Lake? Much more attention has been given to the…

OUR GEM: Citizen Science and Water Quality: The Role of Bay Watchers in Monitoring Coeur d’Alene Lake

OUR GEM: Citizen Science and Water Quality: The Role of Bay Watchers in Monitoring Coeur d’Alene Lake

Coeur d’Alene Lake faces numerous environmental challenges that require ongoing vigilance. One of the key programs in safeguarding the water quality of this lake is the Bay Watchers program. A collaboration between the Idaho Water Resources Research Institute, The Coeur d’Alene Tribe, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, and local volunteers.

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…

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…

OUR GEM: Coeur d’Alene Lake Management, Moving Forward

OUR GEM: Coeur d’Alene Lake Management, Moving Forward

The health of Coeur d’Alene Lake and its trajectory have received a lot of attention over the last few years. Recently the conversation has centered around two tandem efforts: 1) the National Academy of Science’s (NAS) review of lake data and recommendations for future lake management, and 2) Gov. Brad Little’s Leading Idaho Initiative for Coeur d’Alene Lake. Both efforts were spurred by recent data reports of lake water quality trends that showed key indicators (including phosphorus, a nutrient in…

OUR GEM: Leading Idaho for Coeur d’Alene Lake

OUR GEM: Leading Idaho for Coeur d’Alene Lake

Beginning in 2021, Idaho Governor Brad Little began allocating funds for projects that reduce phosphorus loading to Coeur d’Alene Lake under the Leading Idaho Initiative. Since then, a total of $33 million has been allocated for this purpose. Governor Little appointed the Coeur d’Alene Lake Advisory Committee (CLAC) to oversee the allocation of these funds and tasked them with selecting projects from the pool of applications that were expected to effectively improve Coeur d’Alene Lake’s water quality. This was on…

Monitoring Idaho’s Water Bodies

Monitoring Idaho’s Water Bodies

This story was written by Guest author: Craig Nelson on behalf of the Our Gem Collaborative team for the CDA Press on Sunday, May 7, 2023. Read the original article. Idaho is well-recognized for its scenic streams, rivers and lakes, with abundant water recreation opportunities that attract visitors from around the globe. In order to assure that Idaho’s water bodies remain clean and available for swimming, fishing and domestic water supply, continuous monitoring and evaluation are needed. Idaho Department of Environmental…

Coeur d’Alene Basin Bull Trout

Coeur d’Alene Basin Bull Trout

This story was written by Graham Freeman on behalf of the Our Gem Collaborative team for the CDA Press on Sunday, April 23, 2023. Read the original article. The Idaho Governor’s Office of Species Conservation (OSC) is dedicated to planning, coordinating and implementing the State’s actions to preserve, protect and restore species listed as candidate, threatened or endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). This work is done in coordination with the State’s natural resource agencies and with input from…