$31M targeted for Lake Cd'A protections

COEUR d’ALENE — The Coeur d’Alene Lake Advisory Committee recently recommended $31 million for 19 projects to protect water quality in Lake Coeur d’Alene.

“Coeur d’Alene Lake is the heart of North Idaho, driving the region’s tourism, economy, and outdoor recreation opportunities. Our continued investment into water quality improvement projects aims to protect this gem for current and future generations to enjoy,” said Gov. Brad Little.

The funds are from Little’s Leading Idaho initiative, which directed millions of state and federal dollars to projects that would reduce phosphorus loading throughout the lake and its tributaries.

The committee considered three categories of funding to prioritize projects: (1) Previous Applications; (2) Wastewater Treatment Upgrades; and (3) 2022 National Academies of Sciences recommendations.

The project list will be presented to the Basin Advisory Group and DEQ director for consideration today.

“These projects are critically important to the Coeur d’Alene community, and the scale of this work is what is necessary to reduce phosphate loading in the lake,” said Shelley Austin, committee member and executive director of the Kootenai Environmental Alliance.

Some of the projects include:

Kellogg stormwater management

Map and document the portions of the Kellogg stormwater system, where the inlets and outlets are unknown, and then implement cost-effective solutions using best management practices and lessons learned from other upgrades of the Kellogg stormwater system. This will reduce the phosphorous loads delivered to the South Fork Coeur d’Alene River, in turn reducing phosphorous loads delivered to Lake Coeur d’Alene.

St. Joe watershed nutrient assessment

This project will support a multiyear study to better quantify sources of nutrient loading in the St. Joe River and St. Maries Rivers, which provide about 45% of the phosphorus load to the lake. This data will be used to identify priority watersheds and stream reaches for nutrient management.

Lake-focused human health risk assessment

Support a multi-year study to determine if key contaminants currently present in beaches, near-shore sediments and water of recreational areas in and around Lake Coeur d’Alene can cause harm to public health.

Outfall Biochar Socks project

East Side Highway District has 10 outfalls throughout the district area that discharge directly to Lake Coeur d’Alene or indirectly through Fernan Lake. This project proposes the use of charcoal filter socks (Biochar Socks) to treat and remove pollutants from the stormwater prior to discharging to surface waters.

Bruce Cyr, committee member and Lake Coeur d’Alene property owner, said the projects are substantial in improving our water quality.

"We believe that these efforts will yield measurable and meaningful improvements in lake quality over the next three years and for years to come,” he said.

Little said he applauded the good work of the committee, DEQ, National Academy of Sciences, Coeur d’Alene Tribe, and Kootenai County.

"Together, we will continue making positive advancements in the health of Coeur d’Alene Lake," he said.