Members sought for new watershed advisory group

COEUR d’ALENE — The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality is looking for representatives from various interest groups to serve on a new South Fork Coeur d’Alene River Watershed Advisory Group.

The WAG is a group of citizens from different backgrounds dedicated to improving and protecting water quality in the South Fork Coeur d’Alene River watershed, which includes the South Fork Coeur d’Alene River and its tributaries from the Montana border to the Coeur d’Alene River confluence near Enaville.

“DEQ is looking for a diverse group of people who can represent different perspectives, and people who can participate on a regular basis to help advise DEQ on some long-term projects and priorities,” said Kajsa Van de Riet, DEQ representative. “We seek people who want to help DEQ develop water quality improvement plans for temperature, advise DEQ about monitoring and assessments, and implement projects to improve water quality and aquatic habitats.”

Public Watershed Advisory Groups are required under Idaho statute for DEQ’s development of total maximum daily loads (TMDLs).

A TMDL is a regulatory term in the U.S. Clean Water Act, describing a plan for restoring impaired waters that identifies the maximum amount of a pollutant that a body of water can receive while still meeting water quality standards.

DEQ is seeking participants from groups representing agriculture, mining, point source dischargers, forest products, local government, livestock, water-based recreation, environmental interests, and land management or regulatory agencies.

Members do not need to be water quality experts to serve on a WAG. Individuals who live or work within a subbasin are knowledgeable and informed, and DEQ values community input.

“I think people will want to join if they want to get a better understanding about water quality and the streams, rivers and lakes of the South Fork Coeur d’Alene River Watershed,” Van de Riet said. “People will want to join to give input and help make a difference for water quality improvement and protection.”

Van de Riet also provided examples of people who would potentially be good fits for the group.

People such as landowners who want to see what they can do for water quality on their property, who have concerns about erosion or flooding, or who want to benefit fish and wildlife. As well as people who represent regulated point source discharges like municipal waste water facilities and industrial sites and want to give input on decisions that affect them.

The primary pollutants to be addressed by the South Fork Coeur d’Alene River WAG are temperature and sediment.

Although somewhat related since both efforts deal with water quality, the WAG’s work is separate from the Superfund cleanup led by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

“This is an important undertaking for the residents of Shoshone County for many reasons — the lakes and streams of the South Fork Coeur d’Alene River watershed are highly linked to quality of life and economics for our communities,” Van de Riet said. “Healthy water quality is needed to support fish and wildlife and activities like fishing and swimming. Water quality is also vitally important for sources of drinking water. Decisions about water quality can also affect discharges and associated business or rate payers. DEQ is tasked with many water quality management responsibilities and will greatly benefit from public input and participation. Ultimately, an engaged community is necessary for these efforts to be successful at protecting and improving water quality.”

The first meeting will be held at 1 p.m. Feb. 20 at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall in Osburn, located at 318 E. Mullan Ave.