Trustees announce final Coeur d'Alene Basin Restoration Plan

The Coeur d’Alene Basin Natural Resource Trustees, also known as the Restoration Partnership, are pleased to release the final Restoration Plan and associated Record of Decision to guide natural resources restoration within the Coeur d’Alene Basin.

The announcement marks the culmination of a multi-year effort by the Partnership working with the public to develop the framework for Natural Resource Damage Assessment Restoration activities to begin. In total, approximately $140 million is available from settlements to implement projects to recover the natural resources and associated services that were injured or lost from mine waste contamination.

With the Plan complete, the Trustees will solicit restoration project proposals through an open public process. The Plan focuses primarily on ecological restoration of habitats such as streams, wetlands, and lakes.

“The Restoration Partnership is very thankful for the public’s participation and input that went into developing the Restoration Plan. We are looking forward to receiving project proposals and beginning the restoration work,” stated Jeff Johnson, United States Forest Service.

The Restoration Partnership is comprised of representatives from the State of Idaho (Idaho Department of Fish and Game and Idaho Department of Environmental Quality), the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, the U.S. Department of the Interior (Fish and Wildlife Service and Bureau of Land Management) and the US Department of Agriculture (Forest Service). Their primary mission is to recover the natural resources that were injured by releases of mine waste contamination and compensate for lost human uses of those resources. The work is separate from but complementary to cleanup activities in the Basin led by the Environmental Protection Agency.

“Since 1991, the Coeur d’Alene Tribe has eagerly awaited to start the process of healing the injured natural resources in its homeland. The elders that started this effort, and whom have passed on, are smiling on us,” said Phillip Cernera, the Tribe’s Lake Management Department Director.

Public open houses to share additional information and next steps are planned for the following dates and locations:

- May 15 from 6-8 p.m. at Centennial Distributing, Inc. 701 W. Buckles, Hayden, ID

- May 16 from 6-8 p.m. at VFW Hall, 318 E. Mullan Ave., Osburn, ID

- May 17 from 6-8 p.m. at St. Maries Fire Dept., 308 W. Jefferson, Maries, ID

The final Plan and Record of Decision, as well as an overview of the Restoration Partnership, can be found at www.restorationpartnership.org.