Events

Sandpoint Coal Hard Truth Forum

Thursday, March 1st 6:30-8:30pm

Little Panida Theater, Sandpoint, ID

What if every day over 40 more, 1.5 mile long trains full of coal came through our community, halting emergency response, spewing diesel particulates and coal dust, shaking our homes, threatening our health and safety? This is very possible, as coal companies are looking to make it a reality. Our community would not benefit one bit if this proposed project went through. There would be no new jobs, no revenues, nothing!
This public forum will bring local officials and experts together to educate our community about this important issue.
Brought to you by the Sierra Club and Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper.
Stay tuned for more details.

Become a Member

Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper is your organization. We are here to protect the water with you and for you.

In 2012 Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper will:

Advocate for responsible and diminishing use of aquatic pesticides to control aquatic invasive weeds while facilitating diverse methods of biocontrol.  We continue to work at all levels of government to overcome the current roadblocks to the necessary research needed in order to make biocontrol a reality.

Invasive weeds such as Eurasian Watermilfoil are in our lake, and inhibit recreation in swimming areas and boat ramps and negatively impact our ecosystem. This plant has been treated with herbicides with very limited, short term success using millions of taxpayer dollars. The herbicides are hazardous to our health and the health of our ecosystem. During every treatment, drinking water and irrigation restrictions are put in place and are often misunderstood by the people that are directly impacted.

Reduce nutrient loading into Lake Pend Oreille and its tributaries using a multifaceted approach including: advocating for the limited availability of phosphorous-containing fertilizers and encouraging its responsible use, holding violators of improperly treated wastewater discharge accountable and fostering sound stormwater management.

By example, the Pend Oreille River and the near-shore area of Lake Pend Oreille are impaired by excess amounts of phosphorous.  However, Idaho’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) requested that the federal EPA remove these resources from their list of impaired waterways.  Despite Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper’s effort to challenge this, the EPA recently accepted DEQ’s request.  We intend to contest this decision as it contributes to the continuing degradation of water quality.

Discourage inappropriate uses of Lake Pend Oreille including excessive lake level fluctuation and the potential removal of lake waters to augment the Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer in dry months.  Lake level fluctuation causes substantial erosion, particularly in the Pack River and Clark Fork deltas , which are popular tourist destinations.  Erosion also releases excess nutrients into the water, which feed the aquatic invasive weeds that ruin many recreational activities.  Furthermore, we cannot allow the delicate ecological balance of Lake Pend Oreille be compromised in order to support over-consumption of water resources in Washington State.  In this day and age, we must not think of water as a commodity, but as a precious resource and we cannot allow this negative precedent to be set.

We will work to keep Lake Pend Oreille swimmable, fishable and drinkable, but we need your help!  Your donation of $25, $50, $100, $250, $500 or whatever you can manage will ensure Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper’s long-term presence in this community and will support our efforts to stand up to polluters, advocate for sustainable practices and educate the next generation of Waterkeepers.  As a special thank you to our Eagle-level supporters ($500), your personal or business-related contribution will be acknowledged on our website as well as our electronic newsletters!  If you are unable to give at this time, please contact us to learn more about how your volunteer actions can make a difference or if you would like to commend or critique our performance.  Thank you in advance for your generosity, together we can get the job done!

We gratefully accept your tax deductible financial support!

Donate Online:

Mail to:

Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper
PO Box 732
Sandpoint, ID 83864

Or, stop by our office at the corner of 1st and Main in downtown Sandpoint. We are upstairs in #203. Thank you!

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Sign up for our monthly e-news and other critical water related alerts. Please include your email address (required), mailing address, and phone number. By sending your mailing address, you will be an official member of Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper. We protect your privacy and do not share your contact information.

Address Pollution

Report water quality concerns to the Lake Pend Oreille WATERKEEPER®, Shannon Williamson at 208.597.7188 or by clicking here. We actively investigate and assess potential water pollution, and take steps to correct problem situations.

Take Action

Spread the word about Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper! Share our website with family and friends. Let them know that they can help too by keeping their eyes open and reporting concerns.