Idaho rivers are floating and rafting destinations for locals and visitors alike.
>> Join the Effort To learn more and find out how you can protect, maintain, restore and conserve Idaho’s waters, take a look at each of the groups mentioned here: Kootenai Environmental Alliance, Idaho Conservation League, Resto- ration Partnership, Idaho Depart- ment of Environmental Quality, and Hayden Lake Watershed Association. These are just a few valuable resourc- es that are prioritizing the waters of North Idaho. Another excellent resource is Idaho Waterkeepers. Waterkeeper groups are on-the-ground advocates unit- ed in a shared mission to protect the right to clean water in our commu- nities. They patrol local waterways, organize environmental cleanups, ed- ucate the public, and testify in pol- lution cases and public arenas. Find your local waterkeeper at waterkeep- er.org . N
ing done by the EPA and Idaho’s De- partment of Environmental Quality (IDEQ). According to the IDEQ, “The Restoration Partnership was formed by the Coeur d’Alene Basin Natu- ral Resource Trustees, which is com- prised of the U.S. Department of the Interior (represented by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Bureau of Land Management), Coeur d’Alene Tribe, U.S. Department of Agriculture (represented by the U.S. Forest Ser- vice), and State of Idaho (represented by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and Idaho Department of En- vironmental Quality). Early in 2024, the Partnership selected 10 projects from applicants that will address nat- ural resource damage or loss of servic- es due to mine waste contamination in the Basin, many of which have al- ready begun to be implemented. >> Development The communities in North Ida- ho are growing at a rapid pace. More people means more housing and eco- nomic resources. If housing and de- velopment are poorly planned, they can significantly impact waterways.
The Idaho Conservation League has put together a North Idaho Lakes Ad- vocacy program that addresses pro- tecting the panhandle’s waters from poor land management, as well as de- terioration and pollution. “Poorly planned and located devel- opments are impacting waterways through the loss of wetlands, shore- line vegetation, and fish and wild - life habitat…developments are also increasing water pollution through the use of landscape fertilizers, her- bicides, and pesticides. Seepage from septic systems is also increasing toxic algae blooms,” according to idahocon- servation.org. Focusing at the moment on Lake Pend Oreille and the Pend Oreille River, the project has developed a long-term Water Quality Monitoring Program aimed at keeping the pub- lic informed about the lake’s water quality and providing high-quality scientific data for regulatory agen - cies to utilize when considering de- cisions and legislation that could impact our waterways.
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