water quality

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…

This story was written by the Our Gem Collaborative team for the CDA Press on Sunday, July 19, 2020. Read the original article. Most people take clean drinking water for granted. We assume the water coming out of the faucet is safe. If you live in a community with a public water system, the water is tested regularly for contamination. However, if you use a private well or pump surface water for use in your home, it is your responsibility to…

Shoreline concerns are among many threats to the health of Coeur d’Alene Lake. This article was written by Jennifer Passaro and published in the CDA Press on Friday, April 3, 2020. Read the original article. In a packed room at the Iron Horse Restaurant in downtown Coeur d’Alene shortly before the coronavirus hit, the Four County Natural Resources Committee met over lunch.Federal and state resource managers, scientists, concerned citizens and a handful of local elected officials including Kootenai County Commissioner Chris…