Regardless, only a few people were able to testify before the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department showed up and deemed the room over-capacity.  The meeting was canceled for the evening and it, along with the rest of this weeks hearings, will be rescheduled once they’ve identified a larger location.

The deadline to submit written comments will be extended through the date of the rescheduled hearings  (probably within the next 30 days- we’ll let you know).

Below are some talking points for your reference:

Overall the ULUC draft is a much-needed modernization of Kootenai County codes.  The new code is certainly more complex, but also much less ambiguous and subjective. This new draft of the code will provide certainty and clarity to developers, individual property owners and neighborhood advocates.

The new code (the good stuff):

• Will streamline the development process by distinguishing between simple and complex proposals.  Simple proposals will be expedited while complex projects will be carefully scrutinized.
• Specifies “Established Neighborhood” districts that preserve existing property rights by practically eliminating non-conformities. This means that practically nothing will change under the new code for the vast majority of homeowners.
• Supports the most cost effective and sensible immediate and long range approach to planning which is to direct growth near cities where services and infrastructure already exists or can be easily provided.  As envisioned in the Comprehensive Plan’s goals.
• Provides an appropriate range of rural densities.  The new code attempts to keep rural areas rural- which is exactly what the county-wide survey conducted by Kezziah Watkins in 2006 encouraged.  In this survey county residents strongly supported preserving natural areas and the environment, maintaining rural life styles and open space, and retaining a sense of community and a small town feel.   It is important that adjacent land use zones be distinctly different in density so that development does not easily become sprawl. Rural zones should retain rural densities. Development that invades adjacent zones needs to make sense financially and have minimal impacts.  All of which results in gradual, orderly growth that is consciously approved, welcomes full public participation, and protects the environment.

The new code (necessary changes):

• In Chapter 5: Resource Stewardship and Hazard Mitigation., Section 11 states that “Generally. This Section establishes hydrologic protection areas (“HPAs”), which are intended to avoid, minimize, and / or mitigate the impacts of waterfront development on waterbodies, in terms of pollution levels, sedimentation, and impacts to fish and wildlife habitat.”

  The HPA (the setback distance from the lakeshore) for existing lots remains at 25 feet (the same distance specified in the old code) from the ordinary high water mark (OHWM). The new code however now allows too much flexibility for activity and development within that already narrow buffer; Stating that “Hydrologic protection areas are not off limits to use and development.” (Chapter 5-11-2-B)

  Allowing more activities in the waterfront buffer zone, even if those activities depend on Best Management Practices (BMP’s), does not necessarily protect water quality. An established native vegetative buffer (of at bare minimum 25′ undisturbed) around the shoreline is the most effective and efficient way to reduce runoff, erosion and sedimentation into our lakes. The natural buffer between the water and land activities should consist of native or beneficial plants (not lawns) that have deep root systems and do not require fertilizer applications.  The lack of a vegetative buffer is one of the most significant causes of excessive nutrient runoff into our lakes. Vegetative buffers are the most inexpensive and effective BMP available.

• Section 5-11-4-C-2-iii notes one of the various “options” for development on existing lots within the HPA “New principal buildings, new accessory buildings and expansions of existing buildings are allowed within the HPA, provided that: (iii) The width of the HPA is reduced by not more than 60% of the width set out in ″.  This language would reduce that 25’ buffer to just 10’ on some lots.  This type of intrusion is not in accordance with the spirit of the comprehensive plan as it puts too much pressure on a buffer zone that is already at an absolute minimum for meeting the intent of the HPA.

• Existing lot buffer zones needs to be larger, not the same width as the old code which resulted in current water quality issues, and certainly not smaller. In comparison with some of our neighboring counties, Kootenai County already has the smallest lakeshore buffer zone requirements. In Bonner County it’s forty feet (40′), and Spokane County is looking to  increase all of its shoreline setbacks from 25 feet to 50- 100′.

  Research shows that shorelines function as a key part of the environment, providing protection of water quality and important habitat for insects, birds and other animals. Trees and shrubs of a natural shoreline help prevent soil erosion and sedimentation while keeping the water cooler in the summer.

• Just as property owners have a responsibility to contain runoff within their property boundaries, the county also has a responsibility to prevent nutrient loading into Lake Coeur d’Alene as a jurisdictional partner in the implementation of the Coeur d’Alene Lake Management Plan.  The plan depends on the partnership and cooperation across governments, and the plan’s approach is adaptive management. Therefore, if water quality degrades over time and poses an increased risk of mobilizing lake-bed metals, then new or strengthened regulations may have to be established. It would behoove the county to be proactive and take measures now to ensure that nutrient loading of the lake is kept to the absolute minimum.

Following are the comments submitted by Kootenai Environmental Alliance.

Kootenai County Planning Commissioners:

Thank you for providing this opportunity to comment on the Kootenai County Unified Land Use Code (ULUC). KEA staff and members are appreciative of having been able to participate in the ULUC community workshops held by consultants Kendig Keast over the past two years.

These comments are submitted by Kootenai Environmental Alliance and endorsed by the Idaho Conservation League, Spokane Riverkeeper, and The Lands Council.  Each of these organizations are committed to advocating for resource stewardship and improving our community’s quality of life.

Overall the ULUC draft is a much-needed modernization of Kootenai County codes. The current ordinances appear as a patchwork of separate codes that are out-of-date, confusing and often contradictory.  The new code is certainly more complex, but also much less ambiguous and subjective. This new draft of the code will provide certainty and clarity to developers, individual property owners and neighborhood advocates.

The new code:

• Will streamline the development process by distinguishing between simple and complex proposals.  Simple proposals will be expedited while complex projects will be carefully scrutinized.
• Appears to be much more flexible. There are (usually) several clear ways to development approval, while still preserving the targeted community character.  As people become more familiar with the new code, there will be more opportunities for economic development, but also more sensible protections for communities.
• Specifies “Established Neighborhood” districts that preserve existing property rights by practically eliminating non-conformities. This means that practically nothing will change under the new code for the vast majority of homeowners.
• Provides an array of development options.
• Supports the most cost effective and sensible immediate and long range approach to planning which is to direct growth near cities where services and infrastructure already exists or can be easily provided.  The comprehensive plan envisioned this in its goals for future land use designations (laid out in Chapter 14 Section 18.)
• Provides an appropriate range of rural densities. The current 5-acre zoning specification is a sprawl-inducing anachronism. The new code attempts to keep rural areas rural- which is exactly what the county-wide survey conducted by Kezziah Watkins in 2006 encouraged.  In this survey county residents strongly supported preserving natural areas and the environment, maintaining rural life styles and open space, and retaining a sense of community and a small town feel.  In the words of Kezziah Watkins’ report, “They [Citizens] expect the County to find a way to deal with growth that makes growth conform to the character of this community rather than the other way around.”  It is important that adjacent land use zones be distinctly different in density so that development does not easily become sprawl. Rural zones should retain rural densities. Development that invades adjacent zones needs to make sense financially and have minimal impacts.  This results in gradual, orderly growth that is consciously approved, welcomes full public participation, and protects the environment.
• Will (mostly) clean up messy public notices and public hearing processes. Decision-making should be (generally) easier and less political.
• Provides a new framework for a coordinated approach to Rathdrum Prairie growth and new ACI agreements.

There is certainly a lot to be celebrated in this draft of the new code; however, there is reason to have concern with – Chapter 5: Resource Stewardship and Hazard Mitigation.

In Chapter 5, Section 11 It states that “Generally. This Section establishes hydrologic protection areas (“HPAs”), which are intended to avoid, minimize, and / or mitigate the impacts of waterfront development on waterbodies, in terms of pollution levels, sedimentation, and impacts to fish and wildlife habitat. All development within HPAs is subject to the standards of this Article.”

The chapter continues by defining the HPA. The setback distance from the lakeshore for existing lots remains at 25 feet (the same distance specified in the old code) from the ordinary high water mark (OHWM). The new code however now allows too much flexibility for activity and development within that already narrow buffer; Stating that “Hydrologic protection areas are not off limits to use and development.” (Chapter 5-11-2-B)

Allowing more activities in the waterfront buffer zone, even if those activities depend on Best Management Practices (BMP’s), does not necessarily protect water quality. An established native vegetative buffer (of at bare minimum 25′ undisturbed) around the shoreline is the most effective and efficient way to reduce runoff, erosion and sedimentation into our lakes. The natural buffer between the water and land activities should consist of native or beneficial plants (not lawns) that have deep root systems and do not require fertilizer applications.  The lack of a vegetative buffer is one of the most significant causes of excessive nutrient runoff into our lakes. Vegetative buffers are the most inexpensive and effective BMP available.

The new code allows for a variety of “options” for development on existing lots within the HPA “New principal buildings, new accessory buildings and expansions of existing buildings are allowed within the HPA, provided that: (iii) The width of the HPA is reduced by not more than 60% of the width set out in Section 5-11-4-C-2-iii″.  This language would reduce that 25’ buffer to just 10’.  This type of intrusion is not in accordance with the spirit of the comprehensive plan as it puts too much pressure on a buffer zone that is already at an absolute minimum for meeting the intent of the HPA.

The purpose of writing this new code was to implement goals stated in the Kootenai County Comprehensive Plan. In Chapter 11 of the KC Comp Plan Goal 5 is to, “Preserve, protect, and enhance Kootenai County‘s water quality and quantity of lakes, streams, rivers, wetlands including streams and waterways adjacent and/or near the National Forest.”  And Goal 7: D. “Develop regulations that provide protective setbacks for wetlands, Shorelines and riparian areas, to protect fish and wildlife habitats and water quality.”  This goal is not reflected in the new draft of the code. Instead, Chapter 5 Section 11 of the new code projects the primary goal of increasing flexibility of use/development for those existing lakeshore property owners and weakens, rather than strengthens, water quality protection.

The existing lot buffer zone needs to be larger, not the same width as the old code which resulted in current water quality issues, and certainly not smaller. In comparison with some of our neighboring counties, Kootenai County already has the smallest lakeshore buffer zone requirements.

In Bonner County: (Title 12 Chapter 7: 12-711) “lakes, sloughs, ponds or other similar basins, or the Clark Fork or Pend Oreille rivers, or intermittent streams as shown on the national hydrography dataset (NHD), no structure shall be located closer than forty feet (40′), measured horizontally from the “shoreline”. Vegetation buffer management areas include all lands within forty feet (40′) from shorelines.”

In Spokane County: the Washington Department of Ecology has proposed a plan that requires the county to increase all of its shoreline setbacks from 25 feet to as much as 200 feet in areas that are deemed to be in a natural state. Homes would have setbacks of 50 or 100 feet depending on whether they are rural or urban.

Research shows that shorelines function as a key part of the environment, providing protection of water quality and important habitat for insects, birds and other animals. Trees and shrubs of a natural shoreline help prevent soil erosion and sedimentation while keeping the water cooler in the summer.

Certain lakeshore homeowner associations have made it clear that they want more allowances for activity and development of their property. However, when a property borders a public resource and is situated on steep shorelines, increasing rights to allow activities near the water should be offset by the responsibility to protect and restore water quality by increasing the setback distance to bolster natural filtration systems, and by adding engineering and technological solutions that can adequately treat contaminated water.

Just as property owners have a responsibility to contain their runoff within their property boundaries, the county also has a responsibility to prevent nutrient loading into Lake Coeur d’Alene as a jurisdictional partner in the implementation of the Coeur d’Alene Lake Management Plan. The 2009 plan’s primary goal is to “protect and improve lake water quality by limiting basin-wide nutrient inputs that impair lake water quality conditions, which in turn influence the solubility of mining-related metals contamination contained in lake sediments.” The plan depends on the partnership and cooperation across governments, and the plan’s approach is adaptive management. Therefore, if water quality degrades over time and poses an increased risk of mobilizing lake-bed metals, then new or strengthened regulations may have to be established. It would behoove the county to be proactive and take measures now to ensure that nutrient loading of the lake is kept to the absolute minimum.

As it is, the proposed language addressing hydrologic protection areas is too weak.

The way the buffer regulation is structured in the new code specifies a “preferred approach” and then “alternative standards.”  Indeed, the code makes it clear that the HPA is “not off limits to use and development” and doesn’t specifically prohibit anything.  Thus the language in this section needs to be improved by either listing a “preferred design approach” with operative legal language or written to be more clear that the “Options” are the ONLY “alternatives” allowing use and development in the buffer.

Furthermore, IF the “options” are going to allow building, expansion and 100 sq. ft. sheds in the buffer, then the buffer area needs to be mitigated similar to wetlands mitigation; where buffer intrusions be paid back in a 3:1 ratio.  For example, if there’s a 100 sq. foot deck intruding over the buffer, then an additional 300 sq. ft. should be retained in buffer-adjacent vegetation on the lot.

Natural resources need to be protected with adequate buffers and/or clearly defined and enforceable engineering standards. This is especially important for water quality impacts from existing and proposed development near lakes, rivers and above the Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer.

With improved water quality being everyone’s goal, thank you for taking the time to carefully review and consider the issues, concerns and best available science outlined in these comments.

“We’d like to know how the Coast Guard went from needing 130-something days to complete the environmental assessment to being able to complete it in a week,” said Brett Haverstick, Education & Outreach Director for Friends of the Clearwater. “With that kind of speed, the Coast Guard should consider entering the race.”

Along with the speed and loudness of the jet boats and their potential impacts, the US Coast Guard had also indicated that they were concerned with possible erosion and water quality from boats racing up a 25-mile stretch of the St. Joe River.

“We are very concerned about the lack of public involvement and environmental analysis being conducted by the US Coast Guard and other involved agencies”, said Adrienne Cronebaugh, Executive Director of the Kootenai Environmental Alliance. “Lots of time and money has been invested in riverbank stabilization along the St. Joe and this could set things back and actually accelerate erosion.”

It is also important to draw attention to the fact that the bald eagle is a national symbol, and yet, nests on the river may get abandoned due to the noise and traffic, resulting in the death of juvenile eagles.

“The American people need to be aware that elected officials from Idaho would rather see diesel-engines screaming up our waterways than migratory bald eagles nesting in tree-tops”, said Brett Haverstick, Friends of the Clearwater. “So much for patriotism and our national heritage.”

The Kootenai River was recently ranked as the 9^th most endangered river in the United States. According to the 2013 American Rivers report, the Kootenai, which runs through North Idaho and Montana is under threat from Canadian Coal mining company, Tek Coal Ltd. Runoff and waste from their large-scale open pit mining operations on the Elk river in British Columbia is endangering water quality downstream via the Kootenai headwater. Coal mining activities are currently threatening world-renowned sport fishery as well as the survival of rare native fish species, frogs, red-winged blackbirds, and wildlife such as grizzly bear and woodland caribou.

The greatest danger to the river lies in the release of Selenium, which occurs during mining process and can become toxic at very low levels. Selenium is bioaccumulated in aquatic habitats, resulting in higher toxicity levels in organisms than in surrounding water. This is further compounded by the accumulated concentration of toxicity along the food chain. A University of Montana study published last month, by Dr. Hauer, a professor of limnology and research scientist Erin Sexton found that selenium, nitrate and sulphate levels in the Elk River are reaching alarming levels.

According to Dr. Hauer, “what we found was … selenium levels routinely 10-time-plus what we were observing in the Flathead. … Nitrate is 1,000 to 5,000 times higher; sulphate is a 100-fold increase.”

The Elk River, which flows through southeastern British Columbia near Fernie is home to a world famous cutthroat trout sport fishery. Thus selenium poisoning of the river is also threatening recreational tourism across the border. The pollutant reduces the respiratory capacity of a fish by binding to hemoglobin and restricting blood flow and the diffusion of oxygen in the gills. Selenium can also cause malformations in the fetus of the fins and spine. While adult fish may appear healthy their offspring may not survive.

Bad Press for Teck Coal Ltd.

As reported in the The Globe and Mail, April 15, 2013, the BC Government has issued a ministerial order to Teck Coal Ltd. that will require the company submit plans to address levels of selenium and other contaminants into the Elk River. Objectives outlined in this ministerial order are to include the “… protection of aquatic ecosystems, protection of human health and protection of groundwater,” according to B.C. Environment Minister Terry Lake.

Teck Coal Ltd. has been given 90 days to produce a plan and will have one year to implement it. A technical advisory committee has also been assembled to help guide the project, and will likely include representatives from Teck, the Ktunaxa Nation Council, an independent third-party scientist and the governments of B.C., Canada, the U.S. and Montana.

Teck made national Canadian news earlier in the year after failing to meet the province’s water quality guidelines in an action plan presented to the BC government in February. Teck’s proposal to manage an environmental level of 17 micograms per litre, was a gross abuse of BC regulations which set the selenium limit at 2 micrograms. In their action plan they report that since the mid-1990s, selenium levels in the Elk River have increased from levels of one microgram per litre to between 18 and 57 micrograms per liter. These levels are considered illegal in the US, where levels as low as 4 micrograms per liter have been show to cause damage to fish eggs.

Downstream of Plans for Growth

In economics, policy changes to protect delicate environmental habitats didn’t start to affect accounting practices until as late as the 1990’s.  Accounting for the Environment, published in 1993 by Rob Gray was the first comprehensive overview addressing environmental costs. The Professor of Social and Environmental Accounting at the University of Saint Andrews in Scotland published the second edition in 2001 of this seminal book among accounting textbooks. The new edition includes an analysis of the “difficulties of developing an environmental agenda in business.” As such the revised edition is recommended for individuals with an interest in understanding environmental practice and it’s implementation.

In addition to current mining operations, Tek Coal Ltd. is now proposing to expand four out of five of their current mines.  One new mine has also been proposed and three large-scale exploration projects are likely to lead to more to mine proposals. Of further concern is that each expansion is being considered independently as there is no legal requirement to consider the cumulative effect of these mines on the local environment. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has been putting pressure on both Canadian federal and provincial governments to address illegal Selenium levels in the water. Yet pressing environmental concerns regarding the Kootenai River will continue to depend on ongoing public pressure and the practice of economics, environmental law and policy across the border.

A small wren builds her nest under the eaves of our shed in the same place she’s been coming to for years, while a song sparrow belts out his song with power and strength from the top of our apple tree. From the lake, grebes and Canada geese call to each other.  Nearby, busy hummingbirds zip back and forth defending their territory. We open all the windows to let the beautiful morning in, and decide to go outside to listen to appreciate everything more closely.  We want to be a part of it, and it brings so much joy. 

That joy and desire to be in and around nature, is the mission we have at The Art of Nature Summer Camp.  We want to bring that appreciation to kids.  Statistics show that children are not getting outside as much as past generations did, and The Kaiser Foundation found that kids spend a daily average of 6.5 hours in front of a media screen.  Some numbers that show that figure is even higher.

We’ve developed the week-long day camp in light of what we feel these statistics could mean for children’s immediate and future appreciation of our planet.   Each day at camp will have a different nature theme – Water, Wildlife, Forests, Plants, and Energy – with a big focus on art.  All of our art, nature, and play activities will relate to the theme of the day.  The mornings will begin at the big log house in Coeur d’Alene with a Native American ceremony and story to connect the campers to nature, each other, and to the mission of the day.  Then, we’ll set off on the day’s art, nature, and play experiences.  Teaching artists Marci Wing, Chelsea Cordova, and Carol Muzik have lots of fun art projects in store throughout the week and we’re bringing in numerous teachers to share the science lessons related to the day’s theme.  

The Art of Nature Day Camp will be held July 8^th – 12^th, 2013 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily.  Base camp for the 30 campers will be at the big log house on 7^th street in Coeur d’Alene.  Camp fees for each student for the whole week are $175 per camper.  We are offering several scholarships for a discounted fee if the parent is willing to assist for a day.  Campers will receive a t-shirt and the fees cover healthy organic snacks, all art supplies, and transportation to nature sites.    

For the online application go to: http://kealliance.org/art-of-nature-summer-camp/

or call 208.667.9093 or 208.659.9172 for detailed information.

You may also email kea@kealliance.org for additional information.

Like us on Facebook at The Art of Nature https://www.facebook.com/keaandtheartofnature

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 core committee was made up of members from the county’s planning and zoning commission, as well as individuals from the community that were active in earlier community meetings and citizen focus groups. This group combed through this draft line by line, constructively debating and discussing each section’s content week after week, for hours on end at times.

The newest draft of the Kootenai County ULUC is now out for public comment:

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS

KOOTENAI COUNTY UNIFIED LAND USE CODE (ULUC)

60 DAY PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Kootenai County Planning Commission will conduct public hearings at or after the hour of 6:00 p.m. beginning on Monday, June 17, 2013 through Thursday, June 20, 2013 in the Kootenai County Administration Building, Meeting Room 1, 451 Government Way, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho 83814, to hear Case No. ORA11-0003, which proposes the adoption of a new Unified Land Use Code (ULUC) that will replace, reorganize, and consolidate the following Kootenai County Ordinances: Ord. 81, Historic Preservation; Ord. 301, Road Naming and Addressing; Ord. 355, Hearing Bodies and Hearing Procedures; Ord. 394, Subdivision Ordinance; Ord. 401, Zoning Ordinance; Ord. 411, Conditional Zoning Development Agreements; Ord. 415, Condo Plats; Ord. 441, Flood Damage Prevention; Ord. 445, Site Disturbance; Ord. 446, Development Impact Fees; Ord. 453, Site Disturbance Text Amendments; Ord. 464, Suspending Impact Fee Collection; and the Official Kootenai County Zoning District Map.

Copies of the Draft Proposal: Copies of the proposed draft ULUC may be viewed:

 1) online at http://www.zoningplus.com/regs/kootenai/

2) At the front counter of the Kootenai County Community Development Office

 3) At local area libraries. Paper copies of the proposal are also available for purchase (for the cost of production) upon request.

60 Day Comment Period:

Written comments may be submitted by Noon on Monday, June 17, 2013:

1) On-line at http://www.zoningplus.com/regs/kootenai/

2) or via Mail to the Community Development, hand delivery or e-mail at ‘kcpz@kcgov.us‘.

Oral and written comments may also be provided during the Planning Commission hearing process, June 17^th- 21^st.

Overall this draft is a great improvement over the current (and seriously dated) code and ordinances.  At KEA, our concern with the draft focuses on one of the most hotly contested sections during the technical committee sessions - Chapter 5: Resource Stewardship and Hazard Mitigation.

In Chapter 5, Section 11 Hydrologic Protection Areas (HPA), the setback distance from the lakeshore for existing lots remains at 25 feet; but now comes with a lot of flexibility for activity and development within that already narrow buffer. Stating that “Hydrologic protection areas are not off limits to use and development.”

An established native vegetative buffer (of at bare minimum 25′ undisturbed) around the shoreline is the most effective and efficient way to reduce runoff, erosion and sedimentation into our lakes. The natural buffer between the water and land activities should consist of native or beneficial plants (not lawns) that have deep root systems and do not require fertilizer applications.  The lack of a vegetative buffer is one of the most significant causes of excessive nutrient runoff into our lakes. Vegetative buffers are the most inexpensive and effective Best Management Practice (BMP) available.

The current draft of the code allows for “New principal buildings, new accessory buildings and expansions of existing buildings are allowed within the HPA, provided that: (iii) The width of the HPA is reduced by not more than 60% of the width set out in Section 5-11-1″.  This intrusion puts too much pressure on a buffer zone that is already too narrow to begin with.

Four years ago we expanded the Community Roots program to form Kootenai County’s first Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) operation.  At the beginning of the season Shareholders invested in the planting, farming and harvesting of produce and were rewarded each week with a box of organically grown vegetables.  The charitable component of Local Food Share was incorporated into the CSA in the form of discounted “work” shares that allowed participants to help grow and harvest the food in exchange for their share at a reduced cost.   Our CSA in Dalton Gardens ended last season when the land that was being farmed is no longer available.

What does this mean for Community Roots?  Although the implementation of a CSA is suspended indefinitely, there is a brand new project in the works.

In 2012 Community Roots partnered with North Idaho College to build a garden on an unused section along the education corridor.  Transforming this “brown field” from a neglected vacant lot to a blooming, productive growing spot is a big challenge.  An all-volunteer Steering Committee has been formed and the ideological seeds have been planted to build an urban farming and garden education center.  This new program has been named The Gathering Garden in reference to its original use as a gathering spot for indigenous tribes and later housed one of the many sawmills that signified the economic base of the region.

This year the Community Roots Gathering Garden will be the hands-on classroom for a number of interns participating in the Work Ready Program, a 5-step employment readiness training program for at-risk youth administered by Crosswalk North Idaho (formerly Project Safe Place).  Participants will gain experience in various organic growing practices, water conservation, tool safety, soil remediation, seed selection and planting as well as marketing strategies, customer service and money handling for the food they will be growing to sell.

Plans are in the works to erect a large hoop house, build raised beds, compost bins, develop a pond to teach water ecology, plant berry bushes, augment the soil to increase fertility and generally nurture a long neglected piece of ground back to health and productivity.

The Gathering Garden is an all-volunteer effort and if you would like to join in the fun, make a donation of time or materials or give a monetary contribution, call the KEA office ( 208) 667-9093 and find out how you can be one of the “many hands that make work light.”

The Coeur d’Alene River bed is thus lined with more than 6 million cubic yards of these toxic heavy metals from those historic mining activities upstream.  Each Spring, flooding spreads these contaminants throughout adjacent floodplains, tributaries, fill areas and finally into Lake Coeur d’Alene. An estimated 75 million metric tons of heavy metal laden sediments have been deposited into the lake since the late 19^th century.

A slow but steady long-term clean-up is ongoing in the Upper Basin, but most of the lakes, wetlands and floodplains in the Lower Basin remain polluted.  The contaminants pose significant risks to people and wildlife (having left major tributaries devoid of aquatic life and poisoning migrating waterfowl).

Now with new science and some fresh funding from the Hecla Mining Settlement via CERCLA, the EPA and the Coeur d’Alene Basin Commission are eager to start clean-up efforts in the Lower Basin as well. The goals of a Lower Basin clean-up are to reduce exposure to heavy metal contaminants, return rivers to conditions that support healthy aquatic life and return wetlands and riparian areas to conditions that protect waterfowl and other plants and animals that habitat in those areas. Before diving in, these agencies are looking to the public for suggestions and recommendations for specific clean-up projects. They want to know what is important to YOU, and where YOU think the money would be best spent?  There are even opportunities for you to submit your own ‘Pilot Project’ proposal by APRIL 19^th.  We have Proposal Forms available here in the KEA office and posted online.  You can also email your thoughts or questions to prestbo.kim@epa.gov or moreen.ed@epa.gov

Today, Lake Coeur d’Alene is indeed cleaner than it was in the 70s, but the spectacular natural beauty of our area has lured a new threat  to  our lake’s water quality: accelerated development around and adjacent to the lake.  This development yields structures, roofs, roads, driveways and sidewalks, also known as impermeable surfaces, which create stormwater runoff during times of rain and snowmelt.

Stormwater runoff is said to be the single greatest threat to our nation’s water quality.  Under natural conditions, stormwater is able to infiltrate into the soil, but when water hits these impermeable surfaces it sheets off, picking up pollutants such as fertilizers, pesticides, petroleum, etc. and then (if diverted by culverts and ditches) dumps directly into our lake.  Runoff that is not diverted will flow overland and, if unmanaged, can create problems such as drinking well contamination, flooding, and erosion.  Once stormwater pollutants enter the waterway, they create a number of problems such as excess aquatic plant and algae growth and decreased dissolved oxygen, which can leave us with murky water and adverse consequences to fish and wildlife.

An established native vegetative buffer around the shoreline is the most effective and efficient way to reduce runoff, erosion and sedimentation.  This natural buffer between the water and land activities should consist of native or beneficial plants that have deep root systems and do not require fertilizer applications. The lack of a vegetative buffer is one of the most significant causes of excessive nutrient runoff into the lakes, its rivers, and streams, as well as property loss due to soil erosion.

The protection of water quality is a responsibility shared by the entire community.  But Lakeshore homeowners have the unique “frontline” responsibility and opportunity to prevent shoreline pollution from entering the lake.

To aid lakeshore homeowners in their pursuit of being great land and water stewards, the Department of Environmental Quality and the Coeur d’Alene Tribe have created a pollution prevention tool, the Coeur d’Alene Basin Lake•A•Syst Program Manual. Lake•A•Syst is a free assessment program designed to assist shoreline property owners in making well informed decisions about property management.  This free public service can include personal consultation and/ or a copy of a manual that addresses lawn and garden management, vegetative buffer design, aquatic invasive species, stormwater runoff and erosion, septic maintenance, and any other water quality concern that might need to be addressed.  For more information contact Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (208) 666-4623 or the Coeur d’Alene Tribe (208) 667-5772.

The Coeur d’Alene River bed is thus lined with more than six million cubic yards of toxic heavy metals like lead and zinc from those historic mining activities upstream.  Spring floods spread these contaminants throughout adjacent floodplains, tributaries, fill areas and downstream water bodies (Coeur d’Alene Lake).

A slow but steady long-term cleanup is ongoing in the Upper Basin but most of the lakes, wetlands and floodplains in the Lower Basin remain polluted.  The contaminants pose significant risks to people and wildlife (having left major tributaries devoid of aquatic life and poisoning migrating waterfowl).

So what cleanup projects would you like to do or see done in the Lower Basin?

The EPA and the Coeur d’Alene Basin Commission want to know. They will be hosting a Public Forum on Wednesday, March 20^th at 2:00 PM at the Rose Lake Community Center or at 6:00PM at the Medimont Grange (31146 S Highway 3) where they will be seeking suggestions and recommendations from you for specific cleanup projects. They will also be providing information on how you can submit your own ‘Pilot Project’ proposal. These proposals should aid in reaching the following cleanup goals:

• Reducing exposure to heavy metal contaminants.
• Returning rivers to conditions that support healthy fish and other aquatic life.
• Returning the wetlands, lakes, riparian and upland areas to conditions that protect waterfowl, migratory birds and other plants and animals that habitat in those areas.

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