water quality

Did you know Coeur d’Alene Lake is part of the Bunker Hill Mining and Metallurgical Complex Superfund Site? A recent Our Gem community survey revealed fewer than 30 percent of respondents were aware the Lake is included in the Superfund Site. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) listed the site on the National Priorities List in 1983, which seeks to address legacy impacts of mining, primarily heavy metals contamination. The Superfund Site consists of three distinct areas, one of which includes…

This story was written by the Our Gem Collaborative team for the CDA Press on Sunday, Aug. 15. Read the original article. Since the beginning of this year, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) has been reviewing historical and recent water quality data from Coeur d’Alene (CDA) Lake. The NAS assembled a committee composed exclusively of volunteer experts to assess water quality and provide possible recommendations. Our lake has seen a decline in metal concentrations in the decades since enacting environmental…

This story was written by the Our Gem Collaborative team for the CDA Press on Sunday, July 18, 2021. With recent record-breaking warm temperatures, our beautiful lake is at the top of everyone’s mind. In fact, Governor Brad Little recently proclaimed July 2021 Lakes Appreciation Month, including a special mention of Coeur d’Alene Lake. This comes in the midst of a comprehensive assessment and review of data relevant to water quality in Coeur d’Alene Lake conducted by the prestigious National Academies…

The law changed America’s waters but remains a work in progress almost five decades later. This story was written by University of Idaho Extension Area Water Educator Jim Ekins, Ph.D., for the CDA Press on June 13, 2021. Read the original article.  The U.S. Clean Water Act of 1972 (CWA) resulted in profound water quality improvements. It is hard to believe how bad water pollution was in the prior decades. Cleveland’s Cuyahoga River, laden with petroleum, caught fire in 1969 as it…

What IS the future of Our Gem Coeur d’Alene Lake’s water quality? That is the question on the minds of many in northern Idaho, including state and tribal governments tasked with monitoring and improving water quality, elected officials with jurisdiction on the Lake, shoreline property owners, the local tourism industry, and many concerned citizens. Why? Historical mining activities deposited millions of tons of contaminated and potentially toxic sediment including zinc, cadmium, and lead into Coeur d’Alene Lake and its tributaries….

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…