University of Idaho builds better watersheds across Idaho

On a drizzly fall day near the banks of the Spokane River in 2024, local contractors gathered to discuss how to prevent erosion and protect water quality — two critical issues in a region experiencing rapid growth.  

As part of the Stormwater and Erosion Education Program (SEEP), these professionals are learning how to manage the land’s natural movement of water in a way that benefits communities, infrastructure and local ecosystems.

While SEEP has been making an impact in North Idaho for decades, the industry education program is expanding to offer SEEP training in Valley County in May, growing a wider network of professionals with a deep understanding of how to work with the natural movement of water over the land.  

“This effort has made a difference in North Idaho in advancing local professionals’ knowledge of stormwater management,” said IWRRI Assistant Director Meg Wolf. “SEEP best practices are essential to maintaining ecosystem functions and preserving water quality for drinking water and recreation. We know that this program works in North Idaho, which is why we made the program available to more Idaho communities and why we want to continue growing the program throughout the state.”

Essential knowledge 

SEEP is part of the university’s Idaho Water Resources Research Institute (IWRRI), a state-wide arm of a national program that supports water research needs, focusing on water resource management, sustainability and community engagement. It is currently hosted by the University of Idaho center in Coeur d’Alene. 

The education initiative equips contractors, engineers and industry professionals including equipment operators, city planners, snow plow drivers and landscape contractors with essential knowledge on erosion prevention and sediment control. The goal is to protect water quality, as well as public health and safety, and to improve the skills, knowledge and marketability of construction workers and related professionals in the Idaho Panhandle and beyond.  

Another goal is to continue growing, according to IWRRI Operations and Outreach Coordinator Mike “Woody” Wood.  In addition to the Valley County expansion, IWRRI staff is working to expand SEEP throughout the state, including offering training to university employees in Moscow and expanding partnerships with local governments throughout Idaho.

“Hundreds of local contractors have gone through the SEEP training since it was established in North Idaho in 2005,” Wood said. “We’ve seen how impactful SEEP is in North Idaho by integrating up-to-date research on caring for water resources with community engagement. In expanding SEEP offerings throughout the state, we can help more Idahoans be better stewards with the knowledge generated at U of I.”

Registration for the basic SEEP course in McCall on May 22 and 23 is now open.

Moving forward

In SEEP, participants learn best management practices to address issues like erosion, sediment control, run-off and stabilization. Practical lessons range from eliminating dust in soil stockpiles by planting grass seed to stabilizing construction entrances and exits to prevent muddy roads.

Andy Parris of East Side Highway District, who was part of SEEP’s Fall 2024 cohort in Coeur d’Alene, said having the program expanding to other communities throughout Idaho makes sense.

“With all the environmental concerns, I think it’s pretty inevitable that SEEP has to go forward and keep going,” he said.

Good neighbors, good stewards

For many in North Idaho, the program represents a crucial step in addressing environmental issues that come with unprecedented growth, fueled in part by the region’s abundant natural resources and the appeal of outdoor activities and scenic beauty.

Mary Ann Stoll, a communications and public outreach manager for Hayden Lake Watershed Improvement District, said the concepts taught in SEEP equip Hayden Lake residents to be more than just good neighbors and to actively participate in the preservation of the shoreline and slopes surrounding the lake.

“It’s easy to talk with all the conviction in the world about water quality and protecting the lake, but when it comes down to the reality of cost, effort and sacrifice, or when that tree stands between me and my view of the water, it’s harder to prioritize,” Stoll said. “The reality is that one small effort does make a difference, and very quickly, those small projects add up to a lot. As a homeowner, not only are you either protecting or harming the shoreline; you’re also an example to everyone else.”

As SEEP continues to grow, it serves as a guide for how individuals and communities throughout Idaho can protect their local water resources and continue to love where they live.