The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality seeks representatives from various interest groups to serve on the Lower Clark Fork River Watershed Advisory Group.

The WAG is a group of citizens from different backgrounds dedicated to improving and protecting water quality in the Lower Clark Fork River watershed, which includes the tributaries that flow into the Clark Fork River from the Montana border to Lake Pend Oreille.

DEQ seeks participants from groups representing agriculture, mining, point source dischargers, forest products, local government, livestock, water-based recreation, environmental interests, and land management or regulatory agencies.

Responsibilities of WAG members include:

• Advising DEQ on the development of water quality improvement plans known as total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) for streams with degraded water quality conditions within the watershed.

• Helping identify contributing pollution sources in the watershed.

Recommending specific actions to effectively control sources of pollution to the water bodies.

• Helping develop and implement a plan to meet water quality targets identified in the TMDLs.

The primary pollutant to be addressed by the Lower Clark Fork River WAG is temperature with a review of sediment, cadmium, copper, zinc, and dissolved gas supersaturation.

Members do not need to be water quality experts to serve on a WAG. Individuals who live or work within a subbasin are knowledgeable and informed, and DEQ values community input. The first meeting will likely be held virtually. All meetings are advertised and open to the public.

Submit questions or comments to Craig Nelson at (208) 666-4610 or at craig.nelson@deq.idaho.gov.