Our Gem Speaker Series

Jan. 28 — 2024 Bay Watchers annual report, water quality monitoring in the bays of Coeur d’Alene Lake — Meg Wolf

• The Bay Watchers, a citizen science group organized by the University of Idaho’s Idaho Water Resources Research Institute (IWRRI), conducted monthly water quality monitoring across 12 bays in Coeur d’Alene Lake this summer. Led by Mike Wood, the program involved local volunteers collecting data on key water quality indicators, such as temperature, dissolved oxygen and pH, as well as measuring water clarity using Secchi Disk readings. IWRRI intern Alex Kienow assisted with sample collection, and Meg Wolf worked with Lindsey Beacham to analyze the data. They integrated this year’s results into an annual report, comparing them with historical data to highlight trends. Wolf will present these findings and insights from the report.
• About the speaker — Meg Wolf holds a doctorate in hydrology from the University of Utah and serves as the assistant director of IWRRI. Based at the Coeur d’Alene Harbor Center, she is dedicated to expanding water-related research opportunities in north Idaho and fostering collaborations between local stakeholders and university researchers across the state.

Feb. 25 — Long-term trends in metals and nutrients guide remediation and demonstrate success at a northern Idaho Superfund site — Lauren Zinsser

• Over a century of mining in northern Idaho's Silver Valley has led to widespread metals contamination in the Coeur d'Alene River watershed, resulting in its designation as a Superfund site and extensive remediation efforts. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has collected surface water quality data for over 35 years to guide remediation and assess environmental changes. Key contaminants include mining-related lead and zinc. Long-term trend analysis reveals significant declines in lead and zinc concentrations, especially in the upper watershed, though the lower watershed remains a source of lead. In addition, phosphorus data offers insights into dynamic watershed processes affecting nutrient delivery to Coeur d'Alene Lake. This long-term dataset indicates that remedial actions have improved water quality in the watershed while also pointing to areas for future work.
• About the speaker — Lauren Zinsser is a supervisory hydrologist and water-quality specialist at the USGS Idaho Water Science Center in Boise. Her research focuses on field studies of surface-water and groundwater resources, including long-term water-quality monitoring, trend analysis, groundwater characterization and the biological uptake of contaminants.

March 25 — Cougar Bay wetlands restoration — Doug Evans

• The Cougar Bay wetlands, located at the mouth of the Cougar Creek watershed on Coeur d'Alene Lake, have been significantly altered over time by grading, channelization and development, resulting in a low-value wetland dominated by invasive reed canary grass. To restore the area, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), with support from the Coeur d'Alene Basin Restoration Partnership, is working to redirect the channelized flow and restore a more natural stream system. The project includes creating off-channel ponds, restoring wetland hydrology and implementing various methods to manage reed canary grass. The project's goals include improving wetland functions, preserving habitats for aquatic species, enhancing water quality in Coeur d'Alene Lake and fostering biodiversity.
• About the speaker — Doug Evans is a natural resources specialist with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), where he has dedicated 25 years to restoration work. His expertise focuses on managing and restoring natural habitats, particularly in wetlands and riparian areas. Throughout his career, Doug has worked to balance ecological preservation with sustainable land management, contributing to the long-term health and resilience of the ecosystems under his care.

April 29 — North Kootenai Water District automatic metering infrastructure project — Suzanne Scheidt

• The North Kootenai Water District (NKWD) is a non-profit organization providing drinking water to over 11,300 people across 200 square miles through 15 public water systems. The district primarily sources its water from 26 wells tapping the Spokane Valley Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer, with a small portion drawn from Hayden Lake and Coeur d’Alene Lake. To improve water supply reliability and promote conservation, NKWD is replacing its manual and radio-read meters with advanced metering infrastructure (AMI). The new AMI meters feature cellular endpoints for real-time data transmission and include leak detection technology. Following a successful pilot project, which showed a 12% reduction in water usage, the district projects annual savings of 392.8 acre-feet, or 128 million gallons of water.
• About the speaker — Suzanne Scheidt joined the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (IDEQ) in the Coeur d’Alene Regional Office after college, where she spent 24 years working with over 300 public drinking water systems across the Idaho Panhandle. She retired in 2020 as a senior analyst and then became the chief operating officer at North Kootenai Water District (NKWD). Suzanne also serves as the water district representative on Kootenai County’s Aquifer Protection District Advisory Board and as the president of the Idaho Washington Aquifer Collaborative. She holds a Treatment 2 operator license in Idaho.

The speaker series is developed by the Our Gem Coeur d’Alene Lake Collaborative as part of a greater effort to preserve lake health and protect water quality through education, outreach and stewardship.

Our Gem includes local experts from the University of Idaho Community Water Resource Center, Coeur d’Alene Tribe Lake Management Department, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, Kootenai Environmental Alliance, Kootenai County, Coeur d’Alene Regional Chamber and the Basin Environmental Improvement Project Commission.