10Jan 2022 by Nicole Rinaldi

More rain and snow needed to pull Idaho out of drought conditions

Idaho News
By Katija Stjepovic, Idaho Press The snow pack in the Payette River drainage that provides irrigation water for the Emmett Valley is above normal for this time of year after last week’s storm. As of January 1 the snowpack levels for the Payette drainage are reported at 112 percent. The Treasure Valley, and many parts of Idaho, has already seen numerous inches of snowfall this season, but it is too soon to say if it is enough to dig Idaho out of the current drought conditions. The Boise Airport recorded 15 inches of snowfall in December. According to meteorologist Chuck Redman with the National Weather Service, Boise Airport’s average snowfall is anywhere from five to six inches. “We are doing really good right now,” Redman said. On Saturday, Brundage Mountain…
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14Dec 2021 by Nicole Rinaldi

Clean water at Canyon

Idaho News
By Chelsea Newby, Shoshone News Press CATALDO — Canyon Elementary School appears to have found the light at the end of the tunnel for its school’s water system worries. The rural elementary school has been operating under Panhandle Health’s boil order since Oct. 20, after its quarterly water sample led to the discovery of E. coli bacteria in the school’s reservoir tank. After several minor repairs and attempts to clean the tank proved unsuccessful, the school went on to hire a specialty company to perform a final deep-cleaning and extended chlorination flush of the reservoir tank during the school's Thanksgiving break. Canyon Elementary students and staff are back to using the water for hand washing only — taking extra precautions until Jan. 3 when results of the final water sample…
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22Nov 2021 by Nicole Rinaldi

$2 million boost to Lake CDA

Idaho News
By Madison Hardy, Coeur d'Alene Press The Coeur d'Alene Basin could see 11 nutrient-reducing measures come to fruition in 2022 following state approval on Friday.  Members of the Coeur d'Alene Lake Advisory Commission ended their three-month mission on Wednesday afternoon to recommend a set of projects designed to improve the health of the lake city's beloved water body.  A subset of Gov. Brad Little's Building Idaho's Future initiative, the CLAC solicited and reviewed 40 eligible proposals vying for $2 million in state funding.  "One thing I was encouraged about is in the short window we gave for applications, we still came up with over 40 projects," CLAC member Hemene James said. "Now imagine if we were to meet again, imagine the influx of applications we would receive ... I think…
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16Nov 2021 by Nicole Rinaldi

Otters become regular visitors to Pocatello fishing pond

Idaho News
By Candice Spector; Idaho State Journal A group ofotters has been hanging out in fishing pond in Edson Fichter Nature Area in Pocotello. Kyle Riley for The Journal POCATELLO — A small group of otters has been swimming around in a fishing pond in the Edson Fichter Nature Area in Pocatello in recent weeks, catching the attention of local wildlife experts who say the animals’ presence there is a first. The otters were first reported there by nature area visitors a few weeks ago, according to Southeast Regional Wildlife Manager Zach Lockyer of Idaho Fish and Game. Lockyer said while river otters are native to Southeast Idaho in the Portneuf and Snake rivers, he’s never heard of them spending time in that pond until now. The otters likely came from…
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03Nov 2021 by Nicole Rinaldi

All Health Advisories for Toxic Algae in North Idaho Lifted

Idaho News
KREM 2 Credit: Panhandle Health District IDAHO, USA — All health advisory warnings that were issued for toxic algae blooms in summer months for counties in North Idaho have been lifted. The Panhandle Health District (PHD) and the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) announced that there are still some ongoing blooms in North Idaho, but the recreation season has ended and the risk of human exposure has been greatly reduced. Cold weather and rain have a tendency to dissipate HABs, but the public is advised to stay away from water that is discolored, with streaks or globs of scum, or where thick green mats have formed along lake shorelines.  Surface Water Manager with the DEQ Bob Steed said high temperatures led to significantly more harmful blooms than have been…
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22Oct 2021 by Nicole Rinaldi

Farmers Provide Crucial Habitat for Migratory Waterfowl

Idaho News
By Carol Ryan Dumas, Capital Press ROBERTS, Idaho — Richard Gilchrist raises a small herd of Angus cross cattle about 20 miles northwest of Idaho Falls. He also flood irrigates his pasture and the alfalfa and grass he grows for hay, a practice that is falling out of favor among irrigators who seek efficiency in their operations. But Gilchrist’s goal goes beyond irrigation efficiency. “I’m interested in preserving the habitat for the birds and the various wildlife,” he said. He has two plots, each about 150 acres. One is bordered on two sides by the Market Lake Wildlife Management Area, more than 6,000 acres of stopover habitat for waterfowl and nesting habitat for some bird species. His flood-irrigated fields are an integral part of the birds’ survival, providing food and…
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20Oct 2021 by Nicole Rinaldi

Cascade Reservoir Water Quality Study Set

Idaho News
By Brad Carlson, Capital Press The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation will study the Cascade Reservoir in Idaho to figure out ways to improve its water quality. Cascade Reservoir, near timberlands and meadows about 80 miles north of Boise, is shallow and subject to algae blooms. The blooms are driven by high water temperatures and nutrient levels. It also is known as Lake Cascade. The Snake River Area Office received a $308,200 grant for the pilot project to model the reservoir's operations. The goal is to find operations-related ways to improve water quality. The pilot project will evaluate whether operations at Cascade and nearby Deadwood Reservoir can be coordinated to improve water quality. Operating alternatives will consider “all requirements and constraints” such as physical capacity, irrigation demands, flow augmentation and flood…
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12Oct 2021 by Nicole Rinaldi

The 2021 Water Year: Anything But Normal

Idaho News
By Mychel Matthews and Hannah Ashton, Times News TWIN FALLS — An uncertain winter snowpack, empty reservoirs on the Upper Snake River, and the prediction of the repeat La Nina weather pattern will force farmers in the south-central Idaho desert to make tough decisions about what crops to grow in 2022. Crops in the Magic Valley significantly suffered through the past year’s hot, dry growing conditions and growers now worry about next year. Idaho is in a drought “that is unprecedented in recent memory,” according to the Idaho Department Resources. An exceptionally dry spring followed by a summer heatwave resulted in the driest March-to-July period since 1924. To date, 2021 is the 15th driest year Twin Falls has experienced since the town’s inception, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric…
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01Oct 2021 by Nicole Rinaldi

Youth Academy Pitches In On Clearwater River Cleanup

Idaho News
Idaho County Free Press For the fourth year, cadets from the Idaho Youth ChalleNGe Academy (IDYCA), located in Pierce, pitched in during the annual Clearwater River Cleanup Day on Sept. 17. According to a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) release, the cadets removed hundreds of pounds of debris and trash from the river and shoreline along a 5-mile stretch from Cherry Lane to Gibbs Eddy. “While we host this event each year to help clean up the river, our goal is to find less and less trash each time,” stated BLM Cottonwood field manager Richard White. “Together with the Clearwater Management Council, we are really trying to encourage everyone who recreates on the river to leave no trace.” The annual cleanup day event is supported by the BLM’s Cottonwood Field…
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24Sep 2021 by Nicole Rinaldi

Idaho Water Resource Board Expands Cloud Seeding

Idaho News
By Brad Carlson, Capital Press The Idaho Water Resource Board at its Sept. 16-17 meeting voted to continue cloud-seeding programs — and to start a new effort this winter in the state’s southeast corner. House Bill 266, which he Legislature passed this year, says the board is responsible for authorizing cloud seeding and may participate in it and hire contractors. HB 266 directs the board to identify additional basins that cloud seeding would benefit, and to work with stakeholders. It limits liability for participating in certain projects and says no state or local permits are required. Cloud seeding has been used in parts of Idaho for years. Upper Snake, Big Wood, Boise and Payette river basins have aircraft- or ground-based iequipment to seed winter storms. The board is continuing its…
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