Lake Cd'A projects on standby

COEUR d’ALENE — Projects that could preserve the health of Lake Coeur d'Alene for generations are awaiting state approval after receiving an OK from panhandle officials on Friday.

Recognizing that the lake is a vital part of the North Idaho community, Gov. Brad Little allocated $2 million through his Building Idaho's Future initiative to protect the Coeur d'Alene Basin.

Little appointed nine North Idaho locals to the Coeur d'Alene Lake Advisory Commission to recommend projects for state funding. Proposals prioritized were those which diminished the amount of phosphorus and metal contaminants in the Coeur d'Alene Basin.

"I think his whole process was an example of government activism at its finest," CLAC member Shelley Austin told the Basin Advisory Group on Friday. "It was amazing to me that there were so many well-prepared applicants."

The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality identified 40 individual projects for CLAC consideration. Following two ranking sessions, 22 projects received significant support, and 11 were prioritized for funding by the CLAC on Wednesday.

"Certainly 22 projects far exceed the $2 million that we have," IDEQ Surface Water Manager Robert Steed said. "But there is a discussion that this (list) may be used to acquire additional funds and perhaps ARPA funds."

American Rescue Plan Act funds are federal dollars which may be used for public health and investments in water, among other purposes.

Although final approval is subject to change depending on contract amounts and remaining funds, the top 11 projects were for:

• Sanders Beach Stormwater, City of Coeur d'Alene

• Bunker Creek Outfall, City of Kellogg

• Independence Point Stormwater, City of Coeur d'Alene

• North Kellogg Outfall, City of Kellogg

• Marmot Trail Stormwater, East Side Highway District

• Coeur d'Alene River Stabilization, Kootenai-Shoshone Soil and Water Conservation District

• St. Joe River Phosphate Reduction, Benewah Soil and Water Conservation District

• Mullan Avenue Stormwater, City of Coeur d'Alene

• Mica Creek Watershed Agricultural Sediment Reduction and Improvement Project, Kootenai-Shoshone Soil and Water Conservation District

• Hill Street Outfall, City of Kellogg

• City of Plummer and Stimson Lumber Company Municipal Wastewater Reuse Project

Members of the Panhandle Basin Advisory Group reviewed the CLAC-recommended projects Friday morning. In a near-unanimous decision, Bill Pittman abstaining, the group advanced the list to the IDEQ director for approval.

Echoing a comment by CLAC member Hemene James on Wednesday, Steed pointed out to the group that smaller municipalities around the lake are "really struggling" and need to be kept "in mind if future funding comes around."

Steed explained that many projects submitted by smaller cities had a heftier price tag and weren't budgetarily feasible.

"We got rid of a lot of these small municipalities that do contribute to long-term problems for us," he said. "The CLAC went to great efforts to make sure that we ... were as economical as we can get."

Austin added that she hopes the CLAC's efforts will lead to more funding for future projects.

"It makes me proud to think that there are so many people that have a focus on improving water quality," Austin said.

BAG member Scott Fields appreciated the CLAC for taking on their task but felt the IDEQ ranking could leave a "chance for bias to be introduced." If future funding opportunities arise, Fields asked for the advisory group to be included in ranking deliberations.

"Not that I just trust you guys, but it just seems like that's kind of a departure on how we've always done things," Fields said.

National Tribal Water Councilwoman Rebecca Stevens pointed out that one of the projects recommended by the CLAC coincides with an upcoming U.S. Environmental Protection Agency program. She said the project includes plans to dredge a portion of the area within the next couple of years as part of a stabilization effort.

"I would hate for the governor's money to go toward a project that could be done by EPA," Stevens said.

Info: www.deq.idaho.gov/coeur-dalene-lake-advisory-committee and www.deq.idaho.gov/events/panhandle-basin-advisory-group-meeting-5.