Scotchman Peaks and the Panhandle Collaborative

At their excellent website, the Friends of the Scotchman Peaks Wilderness have an interesting and optimistic glass-half-full take on the recent convening of a “Panhandle Collaborative” to discuss lands and forestry issues in our northern region. The brainchild of Congressman Walt Minnick, the collaborative will attempt, maybe, to sort through the many issues with many stakeholders to come up with some way forward on wilderness, more »

Commissioners at Crucial Point in Consideration of County Comp Plan

The Kootenai County Commissioners continue their lengthy deliberations on the Comprehensive Plan this coming Monday, and they are at a crucial moment. It isn’t over-stating it to say that the fate of the rural landscape is now in their hands. Your calls and emails could be helpful. KEA members and interested individuals are strongly encouraged to contact members of the Board this week, to urge more »

What We’re Reading

Snow on the ground, fresh coffee in the pot, and the paper versions of the Spokesman-Review and New York Times this Sunday morning.  Resting up from a busy week at KEA and getting ready for another one, here are some electronic readings from the past busy week. Restructuring of the North Idaho economy underway — New West North American cooperation on wilderness — Idaho Conservation League Land more »

What we’re reading

At the brand new KEA book club, it’s Richard Louv’s book, “Last Child in the Woods,” but here are some other recent articles of interest: – A technical discussion of the Spokane River TMDL issue – Marten Law Group – How to talk to climate skeptics - answers for anti-scientists – Scienceblogs - Financial difficulties in small local environmental groups — Miami Herald – What happens in Idaho when development isn’t well planned – more »

KEA Submits Comments on Spokane River Cleanup Plan

At the end of October, Kootenai Environmental Alliance submitted some 21 pages of complex and technical comments to Washington’s Department of Ecology on the proposed plan to establish TMDLs (Total Maximum Daily Loads) for the polluted Spokane River. Under the Clean Water Act, TMDLs need to be established in order to allocate the maximum levels of pollutants that the waterbody can handle. In the Spokane more »

Community Roots Program distributes 9000 lbs. of food this season

Community Roots, a program of Kootenai Environmental Alliance, has completed its third season of collecting surplus produce from local gardeners and farmers markets for delivery to local food assistance facilities.  Beginning with only a handful of people and 3,000 pounds of donations in 2007, the program has now more than tripled its impact. More than 9000 pounds of fresh produce was distributed this season to people more »

What We’re Reading

It’s been a super busy week here at KEA — grant deadlines, comment deadlines, speaking engagements, and all-day meetings – but we still read teh entire internets every day. Here’s some interesting stuff: Dysfunctional agencies? Really? — CPR Blog Climate skeptics? Really? Here’s how to talk to one. — Scienceblogs (via Legal Planet) Speaking of… The last of the flat-earthers — Washington Post A green World more »

CdA Council Candidates Address the Issues at KEA Forum

The candidates who showed for the KEA forum this afternoon acquitted themselves quite nicely, with mostly thoughtful answers to mostly difficult questions. Only challenger Dan Gookin failed to show, claiming in a letter to Kootenai Environmental Alliance the he had a prior engagement.  As moderator, I thought things went well, but perhaps too well.  On the core substance, there seemed to be a lot of more »

What We’re Reading

More global warming reading.  And a potential new development for an old mine: –  MORE global warming non-believers? – People-Press.org  – Cool home efficiency competition. – NRDC Swithboard  – The real climate challenge will be adaptation. States first. — Legal Planet  – The Eternal Sunshine Mine – Down to Earth NW

Gookin to no-show at KEA Forum Thursday

We received a letter today from Dan Gookin, a candidate for City Council in Coeur d’Alene.  According to the letter, Mr. Gookin has a “prior speaking commitment” and will not be attending the candidate forum scheduled for tomorrow (Thursday) at noon at the Iron Horse. In the letter, Mr. Gookin said he “wants to share with you my opinions and ‘green thoughts’ for the future more »