COEUR d’ALENE — Kootenai Environmental Alliance is seeking helping hands to give Fernan Lake some love and protection before the snow flies.

"Fernan is in a bad state," KEA executive director Sharon Bosley said Tuesday. "It's not a healthy lake for humans and animals, in general."

The nonprofit conservation group is hoping for at least 24 volunteers to assist as it undertakes its biggest restoration project yet. KEA will lay straw matting and wattle (straw tubes) on more than 2,700 feet of shoreline around the lake to combat erosion, hold sediment on the shoreline and slow the runoff from Fernan Creek, where high levels of phosphorous enter the lake.

"It has been determined that high phosphorous levels in Fernan Lake are a driving factor in the growth and abundance of blue-green algae populations within the system," a KEA press release states. "Blue-green algae blooms in Fernan Lake affect water quality and pose a risk to humans, animals and local fisheries health."

Seven project sites located between milepoints 1.1 and 2.2 on the shoreline side of Fernan Lake Road, and one site on the far west shore of Fernan between the lake and Interstate 90, will be the focus of the wattle and erosion matting installation, which will be seeded with native grasses.

East Side Highway District prepared the seven sites for the straw matting and wattles on Tuesday. Two of the seven sites will be planted with native shrubs in the spring.

"Throughout the winter and the rain events that are going to happen from now until spring, they're going to wash sediments on top of these mats," Bosley said, explaining that the matting will give the grass extra support as it grows.

Volunteers are needed to lay matting and hammer stakes for the wattle from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. this Saturday and Nov. 11. KEA will gather volunteers for planting the shrubs as spring approaches.

"Ideally, KEA would love to see in five years that we could restore Fernan Lake to be more usable," Bosley said. "This will not be the end-all fix it; moving forward, we'd love to fix and adjust some wetlands upstream so there's not so much sediment being washed down."

She said she was involved in a restoration project at the lake two years ago, and "it's something that makes you feel good."

"It's one of the coolest things you can do in your community because you make a difference," she said. "It takes a village. I think in our lifetime, we can make it better."

Volunteers can be 12 and older, but even younger volunteers will be able to help with cleaning and other tasks. Bring mallets, Pulaskis, shovels and water bottles. Lunch will be provided.

To help, contact KEA community outreach and volunteer coordinator Jill McFarlane at jill@kealliance.org.