THE DIRT: Annual Basin tour to explore lower regions

Join the Basin Environmental Improvement Project Commission (BEIPC) for its annual Basin Tour on Wednesday, July 29, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. This year's tour will focus on the Lower Basin, highlighting both remediation and restoration efforts that are improving water quality, habitat, and ecosystem health throughout the watershed. 

The annual tour gives commissioners and members of the public an opportunity to see completed projects, ongoing work, and future priorities. Because of the size and complexity of the Coeur d'Alene Basin, tour locations rotate among the Upper Basin, Lower Basin, and Box. 

The day will begin at Scheffelmaier's Country Barn, where participants will receive project updates and a preview of the sites to be visited. 

The first field stop will be the Hepton Lake Willow Nursery near St. Maries, ID where Coeur d'Alene Tribal staff will discuss restoration efforts designed to improve wetland habitat, water quality, and native fish populations while controlling invasive species. Participants will also tour the Native Willow Nursery, which provides plant materials for Restoration Partnership projects throughout the Basin. 

During lunch at Aqua Park in St. Maries, representatives from the Inland Northwest Land Conservancy will discuss their conservation efforts within one of their priority areas, the Coeur d'Alene River and the important role land protection plays in supporting restoration projects. 

The tour will then visit Grays Meadow, with Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game where approximately 700 acres of contaminated agricultural fields have been remediated and restored to wetlands supporting waterfowl and other wildlife habitats. This agricultural to wetland conversion project will also increase the amount of functioning, high quality habitat, and improve nutrient filtering and water quality. Participants will view both the east and west fields and learn about the project's benefits for wildlife, water quality, and ecosystem function. 

The final stop will be Rose Lake, where the U.S. Geological Survey will discuss new sediment monitoring stations installed to help track sediment movement down the Lower Coeur d’Alene River and into Coeur d'Alene Lake. 

As an added bonus, attendees will receive a Bird Bingo card and have the chance to win prizes throughout the day. The Lower Basin is a haven for migratory birds and waterfowl, making it the perfect place to test your bird-spotting skills while exploring some of the Lower Basin's most important restoration sites. 

Registration is required, and seating is limited. To reserve a seat, contact Gail Yost, executive director’s assistant, at [email protected] or 208-783-2548; for updates and the full agenda, visit www.basincommission.com. 

The Dirt is a series of informative articles focused on all aspects of cleanup efforts associated with the Bunker Hill Superfund Site. Our goal is to promote community awareness of contamination issues, to provide tools for protecting public health, and to keep the community informed of current and future cleanup projects. The Dirt is a group of committed and local experts from multiple agencies, including the Basin Environmental Improvement Project Commission, Panhandle Health District, Shoshone County, Silver Valley Economic Development Corporation, and the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality.