Our Gem

The Our Gem Coeur d’Alene Lake Collaborative is a team of committed and passionate professionals working to preserve lake health and protect water quality by promoting community awareness of local water resources through education, outreach and stewardship.

Our Gem includes local experts from the University of Idaho Community Water Resource Center, Coeur d’Alene Tribe, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, Kootenai Environmental Alliance, Kootenai County, Coeur d’Alene Regional Chamber and CDA 2030.

Resources

The Coeur d’Alene LakeASyst is a tool for local landowners. LakeASyst for the Coeur d’Alene Basin was developed by the Coeur d’Alene Tribe and Idaho Department of Environmental Quality Lake Management Teams. The manual consists of 11 sections, each addressing a specific topic related to nonpoint sources of pollution. Topics include lawn and garden management, new construction, and household wastewater treatment. Each section contains information related to the topic, a self-assessment, and a resource directory to connect you with more information and professionals that can help. The manual provides a simple reference on ways of minimizing impacts of a variety of activities.

Lake Survey Results

The Our Gem Collaborative launched a survey in the summer of 2021 to learn about community perceptions of Coeur d'Alene Lake health. Over 1,000 community members responded, sharing their views on water quality of the Lake, threats of highest concern and other topics. The Collaborative will use the results of this survey to better shape messaging around lake health in future community outreach efforts.