Kootenai Environmental Alliance is the 

Lake Coeur d’Alene WATERKEEPER® .

WATERKEEPER® is a global movement for clean water.

KEA is the Lake Coeur d’Alene WATERKEEPER® and a

proud member of the WATERKEEPER® Alliance with more than 300

local WATERKEEPER® groups protecting water on six continents.

Water Focused Education for Schools


The Confluence Project and Youth Water Summit

The Confluence Project (TCP) is a yearlong program pairing scientific experts with high schools

across North Idaho. Partners from University of Idaho, the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, Kootenai

Environmental Alliance, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality and IdaH2O team up to

promote hands-on experience, field data collection in the natural sciences using a curriculum

designed by University of Idaho.

Throughout the school year, TCP teachers introduce water resource issues in the classroom and

guide their students in a comprehensive research project. During multiple field excursions,

students collect and analyze local water resource data. In the spring, they develop a driving

question related to a real-world water resource issue, thoroughly research, collect data and

propose a relevant solution.


The project culminates in the Youth Water Summit where students present their research

projects. More than 100 volunteer judges from the scientific community contribute to the

success and growth of this event. The Youth Water Summit encourages students to dig deeper

into local water issues while providing an opportunity to experience a professional scientific

conference.

Elementary School Field Trip Days

Fernan Elementary School WATERKEEPER®

Focus is to teach students What is a Watershed? How do I protect mine?

Cohort of Kindergarten and First Graders do a 3-station practicum with Watershed model,

Water Monitoring Station and Plant ID/Riparian Zone Station.

Sorensen Magnet School Field Trips

Students in 3rd and 4th grades learn about point-source pollution, non-point source, riparian

zones, city well monitoring and nutrient loading along the Spokane River from Independence

Point to the seawall at the UofI Harbor Center.



Water Festival

An annual 2-day celebration of water in McEuen Park, with guest speakers, vendor and

educational booths, water models, nature hikes and more. The entire 5 th Grade cohort is invited,

including the Lakeland District, Post Falls and CDA. All who attend learn about water issues and

how to protect the watershed. Summer educational camp in 2 days!

Water Focused Education for the Public

Lake Coeur d’Alene WATERKEEPER®

The Lake Coeur d’Alene WATERKEEPER® program is an on-the-water advocate working to ensure

that the Lake is swimmable, fishable and drinkable. As the Lake CDA WATERKEEPER®, we work to

protect against threats to the public’s water resources in the Coeur d’Alene Lake watershed

through enforcement, community action, education, restoration, and advocacy. The Pollution

Hotline is a component in reporting polluters and increasing healthy water quality awareness to

the public. The WATERKEEPER® also oversees many of the educational programs offered by KEA.

Wild and Scenic Film Festival

An annual film festival featuring Inspirational films about environmental issues. KEA works with

NIC Environmental students to choose films pertinent to North Idaho issues. This is a major fund

raising event for KEA – held in early Spring and way too cool to miss. The 2022 WSFF will be held

on March 22, the 59 th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act!

Earth Day

In collaboration with Coeur d’Alene Library, events are planned in McEuen Park that include:

Nature Hikes on Tubbs Hill, watershed model demonstrations, booths supported by

Environmental Educational Partners, story times, speakers and guided hikes at 

various locations  around the lake.

Talk-oh! Tuesdays

A speakers series featuring 7-minute presentations by experts on water quality topics, held

around Lake CDA at City/County/BLM locations. The Taco Truck is present and attendees are

encouraged to engage in an active Q&A after the presentation. 60-second surveys are

conducted at each event with 3 specific questions, and opportunities to sign up for volunteering

with KEA are provided. We seek to capture interest, names and contact information, and create

volunteers for all KEA programs.

KEA Boat Tours

A component of the WATERKEEPER® program, KEA conducts regular boat tours that point out

various pollution sources, riparian zone infractions and strengths, land use issues that affect the

lake, and effects of nutrient loading in bays along the lake (excessive plant growth).

Citizen Science

KEA has a long and strong history of encouraging citizens to participate in water monitoring

opportunities and active engagement in protection, restoration and conservation around the

lake. KEA works with UofI water monitoring programs and other associations to bring awareness

to citizen advocacy and science. Lake shore cleanups are part of KEAs citizen science

programming.

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