A few weeks ago the Kootenai County Unified Land Use Code (ULUC) Technical Committee wrapped up their review of the initial draft and made their final recommendations to consultants Kendig Keast and the Kootenai County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC). The technical committee members must be applauded for all of the time and detailed attention they have poured into the editing of this document. This more »
In the Upper Coeur d’Alene Basin resides one of the largest and most complex Superfund sites in the country, Bunker Hill. From the 1880s to the early 1980s, the Silver Valley was the nation’s largest producer of silver, lead, zinc, and other metals. The mining and processing generated large quantities of heavy-metal-related waste materials containing toxic substances such as cadmium, arsenic, lead, and zinc. Much more »
Good news for everyone who values clean water! The Hayden Lake Project got a gold star on its first official report card. What The Hayden Lake Project Is: The project, which launched in 2009 and operates under the direction of Kootenai Environmental Alliance (KEA), conducts water quality research in and around Hayden Lake. It uses new technologies and science-backed methods that are well proven to more »
As summer is starting to fade into fall I am reminded and wishing for that amazing warm weather we saw this season. With that weather and current pollutants found in lakes, two documented blue green algae blooms exploded in Fernan and Hayden lakes causing health advisories and shutting down lake access. Why is Blue Green Algae showing up in our lakes? Blue Green Algae is more »
Two weeks ago KEA held a Volunteer Lake Monitors kayaking trip. The morning was beautiful and calm, perfect for enjoying the beauty of CdA Lake and Spokane River. The 9 volunteers and KEA geared up and launched out in boats provided by North Idaho College Outdoor Pursuits. We headed downstream towards three stormwater outfall pipes. Here is where we discussed the impacts of stormwater pollution more »
On a Wednesday morning a group of motivated students, part of Selkirk Outdoor Leadership and Education partnered with Kootenai Environmental Alliance to stencil storm drains with the message, “DUMP NO WASTE, FLOWS TO OUR LAKE.” These volunteers dedicated their time to raise awareness about stormwater pollution. Many people are under the assumption that these storm drains, that have become so apart of the landscape more »
On Tuesday, the EPA announced the long-awaited but entirely anti-climactic release of their decision document governing the massive cleanup of the Upper Coeur d’ Alene basin. (News coverage here and here.) As had been foreshadowed for months, the EPA’s decision significantly reduced the scope, timeframe and cost of the cleanup plan from what had been originally proposed some two years ago. At this point it’s more »
On a recent volunteer effort to stencil stormdrains with the message “Dump No Waste, Flows To Lake,” volunteers also collected garbage. Most of this garbage consisted of cigarette butts. Not only was it unsightly and unpleasant to collect and dispose of, it poses a health problem for our waterways. Cigarette butts are NOT biodegradable, but are made of “synthetic polymer cellulose acetate,” a plastic that more »
Stormwater is run-off from rain events and snow melt that flows over hard surfaces like pavement, roofs and sidewalks and picks up debris and pollutants in its path. This flow is directed either into a storm sewer system or can go directly into our waterways. Even if stormwater goes into a storm sewer system, it still gets discharged directly into Coeur d’Alene Lake or the more »
Yesterday, the CDA Press reported that the Kootenai County Commissioners were “scrapping a proposal to expand shoreline protection requirements” in the re-writing of the zoning and development codes. And, in one sense, it is true that the Commissioners and the consultant and the Advisory Committee panel have gone back to the drawing board. But rather than this being some political victory for property rights, or more »
