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Water quality can be measured in many ways. Some tests involve collecting water samples and analyzing them in a laboratory to determine whether the water is safe for human consumption. Other tests evaluate conditions that affect fish and other aquatic species. While these methods provide valuable information, scientists can also assess the health of a waterbody by examining the organisms...

A new bicycle and pedestrian-friendly campground in Smelterville opened in May, offering visitors a unique, low-impact outdoor experience near the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes. Located off Airport Road on the north side of Interstate 90, the campground includes 26 campsites, two of which are fully ADA-accessible. The accessible sites feature pathways connecting the trailhead parking area directly to the...

At first glance, the Page Repository seems like an unusual place for an environmental cleanup project. Why would engineers build a repository in what appears to be a wetland?The answer begins more than a century ago.Long before the repository existed, the site served as the Page Mine tailings pond, where fine mining waste was deposited for decades. Those tailings contained...

If you've driven past the Page Repository recently, you've probably noticed a large stockpile of concrete and wondered what's going on. Why is so much concrete being brought to the repository? Why is it being placed in what appears to be a wetland? And how does it fit into the environmental cleanup of the Coeur d'Alene Basin?The answer starts with...

Join the Basin Environmental Improvement Project Commission (BEIPC) for its annual Basin Tour on Wednesday, July 29, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. This year's tour will focus on the Lower Basin, highlighting both remediation and restoration efforts that are improving water quality, habitat, and ecosystem health throughout the watershed.The annual tour gives commissioners and members of the public an...

For many years, students from Kellogg and Wallace High Schools have participated in the Confluence Project, a year-long water science program that connects classroom learning with real-world environmental research. Sponsored by the University of Idaho and supported by numerous agencies and local governments, the program provides students with hands-on opportunities to explore the Coeur d'Alene Basin watershed and the challenges...

KINGSTON, ID — The Kingston-Cataldo Sewer District is redefining what infrastructure can achieve. By pivoting to an innovative land application treatment approach, the District is securing future capacity and self-sustainability while cultivating a thriving local ecosystem.Faced with current user rates averaging $72 per month per housing unit, the district began exploring alternative treatment methods to control future costs while maintaining effective...

Winter in North Idaho has been an odd one this year. From December flooding to an unseasonably dry & warm February, to several severe windstorms, North Idaho has certainly been through the ringer. Precipitation and snowpack deficits over the past four years have also contributed to a multi-year drought in our region that persists today.Despite late-season snowfall, snowpack remained below...

To many people, December’s flooding may have looked like the end of North Idaho’s drought. In reality, the region’s water picture remains fragile—and in some ways, the flood masked deeper problems.North Idaho has experienced some level of drought since the summer of 2021. While only water year 2024 saw well-below-normal snowpack overall, most recent years have been marked by earlier-than-normal...

The Dayrock Complex is located near Wallace within Ninemile Creek Basin watershed and is included in the Upper Basin of the Bunker Hill Mining and Metallurgical Superfund site. This site offers a real-world example of how the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) guides decisions and mitigation when cleanup efforts affect historic resources.  During the Historic Resource Survey, 18 historic-period architectural...