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 Lake Management Department, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, Kootenai Environmental Alliance, Coeur d’Alene Regional Chamber and CDA 2030.

Our Gem Speaker Series

Join the conversation during expert-led lunch hour presentations. All sessions are noon to 1 p.m. over Zoom. Registration is required through the session links.

• Sept. 15 – Lake Science 101 with Dr. Frank Wilhelm (U of I)
• Sept. 17 – Kootenai County's Role in Preserving Water Quality with David Callahan (Kootenai County)
• Sept. 22 – CDA Lake Management with Rebecca Stevens (CDA Tribe) and Jamie Brunner (Idaho Department of Environmental Quality)
• Sept. 24 – Aquatic Invasive Species with Dr. Kim Holzer (Idaho State Department of Agriculture)

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.

Articles

The Our Gem Collaborative team regularly contributes data-driven articles to the Coeur d’Alene Press to promote dialogue and community action in caring for Coeur d’Alene Lake.