06Apr 2023 by Nicole Rinaldi

State of Idaho passes legislation to protect and preserve Bear Lake

Idaho News
By Rod Boam; Cache Valley Daily BEAR LAKE – Bear Lake Watch is taking a victory lap after getting a bill passed through the Idaho Legislature that recognizes Bear Lake benefits, and provides for its protection and preservation. A file photo of Travis Hobbs who caught a monster 31-inch Cutthroat trout while fishing on Bear Lake on January 17, 2021. “Idaho Senate bill, S1112, passed unanimously through both House and Senate,” said Claudia Cottle a Bear Lake Watch member pushing the bill with her husband David. “It was signed by Idaho Governor Brad Little at a signing ceremony Wednesday March 29.” This action will put Bear Lake into the same category as other prize and protected lakes in the Gem State like Big Payette Lake, Pend D’Oreille and Coeur D’Alene…
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05Apr 2023 by Nicole Rinaldi

HISTORIC SNOWFALL: Relentless storm dumps as much as 20 inches of snow on Pocatello area, causes police to plead with motorists to stay off roads

Idaho News
By Journal Staff; Idaho State Journal The National Weather Service is describing the snowstorm that has thus far dumped as much as 20 inches of snow on the Pocatello area as a historic event. The storm arrived early Monday evening and has caused numerous wrecks on local roads, resulted in the city of Pocatello and Bannock County shutting down non-essential services and buildings, and prompted Pocatello police to repeatedly plead with motorists to stay home and refrain from driving until conditions improve. Thanks to the storm, this winter is now among the top five snowiest ever in Pocatello, the National Weather Service said. As of Tuesday afternoon, just over 71 inches of snow has fallen in Pocatello this winter. That’s about 22 inches shy of breaking the city’s all-time snow…
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03Apr 2023 by Nicole Rinaldi

U.S. Geological Survey to measure water levels in southern Idaho’s Snake River Plain

Idaho News
By Mia Maldonado; Idaho Capital Sun The U.S. Geological Survey announced it will soon begin measuring groundwater levels across southern Idaho, according to a Monday press release. Survey employees working with the Idaho Department of Water Resources and the Bureau of Reclamation will measure groundwater levels in more than 1,400 private and public wells in the eastern Snake River Plain between April 3-14. The region’s aquifer is the area’s primary source of drinking water and irrigation for 1 million acres of farmland in the state aquaculture industry, according to the news release. The collected data will help water experts understand the status of the aquifer ahead of the irrigation season, and the IDWR will use the data to improve its computer model of the aquifer. Water technicians collect aquifer measurements…
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31Mar 2023 by Nicole Rinaldi

Idaho experiences ‘impressive’ water year

Idaho News
By Carol Ryan Duman; Capital Press After years of water supply shortages and drought, basins in southeastern Idaho have received well above normal precipitation this winter. Not only are all basins well above normal for precipitation and snow water equivalent, but recent snowfall has brought record to near-record snow depths as well, the Natural Resources Conservation Service reported in its March 1 Water Supply Outlook report. “With over a month to go in the snow accumulation season, there is plenty of time for more snow to fall in this already impressive water year,” NRCS hydrologists said. Since the last report, snowpack percentages compared to the 30-year median snowpack slightly increased in the Panhandle, Clearwater, Salmon Falls and Willow-Blackfoot-Portneuf basins and decreased in the rest of the state. “In other words,…
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09Mar 2023 by Nicole Rinaldi

OUR GEM: Aquifer Atlas fifth edition to be available this spring

Idaho News, Research
By Seth Oliver; Guest Contributor for the Coeur d'Alene Press The fifth edition of the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer (SVRPA) Atlas is set to be printed and available early this spring. Seen here: A depiction of the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer. The fifth edition of the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer (SVRPA) Atlas is set to be printed and available early this spring. The SVRPA Atlas is a collaborative effort of groundwater professionals, water quality experts, environmental specialists and science educators from Washington and Idaho to disseminate the most up-to-date information on our region’s sole source of drinking water. The SVRPA Atlas is the culmination of hard work among more than 30 individuals over the past 20 years to consolidate some of the most important information regarding our region’s aquifer, including…
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06Mar 2023 by Nicole Rinaldi

Bear Lake Watch introduces legislation in Idaho to preserve the lake

Idaho News
By Rod Boam; Cache Valley Daily File photo of Bear Lake in the winter. FISH HEVAN – David and Claudia Cottle of Bear Lake Watch are introducing a resolution to the Idaho State Legislature to have Bear Lake be recognized, protected and preserved for future generations. They also want it recognized for its unique geological features, fisheries, and recreational value among other characteristics. “Idaho has preserved other lakes in their state but not Bear Lake,” Claudia said. “They have been preserving lakes in their state since the 1920’s.” The Cottles have done their homework and gained support from communities around the lake and from Pacific Corp, the power company that controls the water gates that pump water into the Bear River. They also went to the Bear River Irrigation Company…
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15Feb 2023 by Nicole Rinaldi

Experts hopeful snowpack helps buck Idaho’s drought conditions

Idaho News
By Carolyn Komatsoulis; Idaho Press Mores Creek and the Robie Creek region is seen from the road above the canyon east of Boise on Feb. 9, 2022. The last two years have seen drier-than-normal springs. Jake King/Idaho Press Love was in the air on Tuesday, and so was snow, at least in Boise and the Treasure Valley overnight. It’s likely that the state could buck the trend of drier consecutive La Niña winters, something that hasn’t happened since the 1950s in the part of Idaho south of the Salmon River. But that doesn’t mean it’s guaranteed. “We’re off to a nice snowy day today and we should have gotten some decent precip up in the mountains last night,” said David Hoekema, Idaho Department of Water Resources hydrologist. “We’re likely to…
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08Feb 2023 by Nicole Rinaldi

DEQ awards nearly $52 million to six drinking water and wastewater systems across Idaho

Idaho News
Contact: MaryAnna Peavey, Grants and Loans Bureau Chief The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) announced the award of $51,335,442 in construction grants to six drinking water and wastewater systems. These construction projects are funded from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds that Governor Brad Little directed to DEQ in 2022. “Water is our most valuable resource, and we absolutely must keep up the infrastructure to ensure water is clean and plentiful for this generation and future ones. That is why we made historic investments in water quality and quantity this year as part of my ‘Leading Idaho’ plan,” Governor Little said. “These investments also could keep your property taxes low. Property taxes are determined locally but the investments we made in water and other infrastructure needs at the state…
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31Jan 2023 by Nicole Rinaldi

U of I researching artificial beaver dams as stream restoration tool

Idaho News
By John O'Connell; University of Idaho A beaver dam analog at Rinker Rock Creek Ranch. University of Idaho. University of Idaho researchers are testing artificial beaver dams as a tool to restore degraded stream systems, thereby improving riparian habitat and bolstering the late-season water supply. Known as beaver dam analogs, these structures comprise the same materials beavers use in nature, including willow boughs, sediment and stone. They cause water to pool and spill beyond the banks. The spillage supports marshland vegetation before seeping into the groundwater and re-emerging later in the season downstream. Beaver dam analogs provide an option to restore habitat where resources are insufficient to support beavers or where beavers would pose a nuisance. A team of researchers with U of I’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences…
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24Jan 2023 by Nicole Rinaldi

Study finds freshwater fish contain high levels of ‘forever chemicals’ contamination

Idaho News
Scripps News A new study from Environmental Working Group scientists found that eating just one freshwater fish could be the equivalent of drinking a month’s worth of water contaminated with PFOS. That’s a set of “forever chemicals” in the same family as PFAS. Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are found in nonstick and water-resistant consumer products. PFAS are commonly referred to as forever chemicals because they do not break down in the environment. “For anyone consuming freshwater fish, we actually think this is likely their largest source of exposure to these compounds,” said David Andrews, EWG senior scientist and one of the study’s lead authors. The scientists analyzed data from over 500 fish fillet samples that were collected across the U.S. from 2013 to 2015 under monitoring programs by…
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