New group's goal: Boost Lake CDA's health

A new committee dedicated to preserving the health of Lake Coeur d’Alene has $2 million to spend, and they plan to do it by year’s end.

A subset of Gov. Brad Little’s Building Idaho’s Future initiative, the Coeur d’Alene Lake Advisory Commission, was announced Friday. It's tasked with finding ways to reduce lake phosphorus levels.

The initiative has $2 million in state funds for projects that mitigate the impacts of metal and sediment residue throughout the Coeur d’Alene Basin.

"We all share a collective desire to improve water quality within Coeur d'Alene Lake, but funding for meaningful projects has been difficult to secure," Little said in a Friday release. "I am prioritizing the funding needed to complete these important projects so we can get to work right away."

Kootenai Environmental Alliance Executive Director Shelly Austin said she's ecstatic to see the governor "step up" and take action on protecting Lake Coeur d'Alene.

"Having the governor put a spotlight on this issue is going to make a huge difference," said Austin, a member of the advisory committee. "The lake is not going to heal itself."

In 2020, Little commissioned the National Academies of Sciences to analyze historical and current water quality data in Lake Coeur d'Alene. He expects the new committee to support the NAS study's efforts.

"Everyone agrees that phosphorus is not a good thing to have in the water," advisory committee vice-chair Jack Riggs said Friday. "I think it's good that we have this opportunity to be able to focus on some of that phosphorus coming into the lake."

During his time as lieutenant governor and a state representative, Riggs advocated for several water quality measures. A lifelong Coeur d’Alene resident, Riggs believes the well-being of Coeur d'Alene and North Idaho are directly linked to the lake.

"The city of Coeur d'Alene would not be here without the lake," he said. "We can't take the water quality for granted."

The committee, made up of nine North Idahoans, includes a mix of local, government, tribal, tourism, environmental, business and public representatives. County Commissioner Chris Fillios was appointed chair.

Coeur d'Alene Mayor Steve Widmyer, another committee member, said the group shares an important common goal.

"Make sure the lake is going to be safe and clean now and for generations to come," he said.

A Coeur d'Alene native, Widmyer's entire life has revolved around the lake — from taking swimming lessons at 4 years old on the city beach, jumping off rocks at Tubbs Hill, and now living only a block away from the shore.

"The lake's health is vitally important to Coeur d'Alene and all of North Idaho," Widmyer said. "We need to make sure whatever issues are out there that we plan to get that taken care of properly."

According to the governor's release, the committee will seek nutrient-reducing project proposals right away.

Fillios said that phosphorus deposit levels are influenced by human behaviors like the use of fertilizers and road work.

"Human behavior is one activity that is the most easily controlled and managed to regulate the phosphorus and nutrient loading," he said.

Echoing the statements of his committee counterparts, Fillios stressed the importance of the lake's health.

"The health of this community, and I mean that in the broadest sense, is dependent on Coeur d'Alene Lake," Fillios said. "We will live or die by the health of Coeur d'Alene Lake."

IDEQ personnel will do technical evaluations on the project and prioritize those "ready to implement quickly" and "provide the largest reductions in phosphorus loading" to the lake.

"I think everybody knows Lake Coeur d'Alene is the lifeblood of North Idaho," said advisory committee member Rep. Paul Amador, R-Coeur d’Alene. "It's incredibly important that we make sure it stays healthy."

The four other committee members are:

Gene H. James — secretary/treasurer of the Coeur d'Alene Tribe

Bruce Cyr — lakeshore property owner

Craig Brosenne — Hagadone Marine Group

Jordan Hall — business owner and Harrison city councilor

Committee work starts following its first meeting on Aug. 26 at 9 a.m. The public can listen in through Zoom.

Info: www.deq.idaho.gov/coeur-dalene-lake-advisory-committee/.