Department of
Environmental Quality

The Coeur d'Alene Region is unique in many ways. First, it shares a border with two states (Montana and Washington), Canada, and three Indian tribes. Since water flows with no regard for humanmade boundaries, staff from multiple agencies and countries frequently collaborate on water quality issues. Second, the region's three large and many smaller lakes are the basis for much of the region's economy. Simultaneously using and protecting these lakes creates both opportunities and challenges. Third, the region overlies Idaho's only "sensitive resource aquifer": the Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer, which provides the sole source of drinking water to nearly 500,000 residents in Idaho and Washington.

Subbasin Assessments and Total Maximum Daily Loads

Listed below are subbasins in which subbasin assessments (SBAs) and/or total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) have been completed for water bodies in DEQ's Coeur d'Alene  Region. Click on the subbasin name to link to an overview of water quality in the subbasin, a list of streams and pollutants for which TMDLs were developed, and related documents, including subbasin assessments and TMDLs, addenda, implementation plans, and five-year reviews. (Access the statewide list of SBAs/TMDLs here.)

• Black Lake Subbasin
• Clark Fork - Pend Oreille Subbasin
• Clark Fork River (Lower) Subbasin
• Coeur d'Alene Lake and River Subbasin
• Coeur d'Alene River, North Fork Subbasin
• Coeur d'Alene River, South Fork Subbasin
• Hangman Creek (Upper) Subbasin
• Kootenai and Moyie Rivers Subbasins
• Pend Oreille Lake (Nearshore Waters) Subbasin
• Priest River Subbasin
• Spokane River (Upper) Subbasin
• St. Joe River Subbasin

Ground Water Studies and Reports

• Chilco Area of the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer (Technical Report 41. November 2010)
• The Ramsey Channel of the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer (Technical Report 25. June 2005)
• The Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer Technical Report (August 1988)
• Sagle, Idaho Area Ground Water Quality Study (Technical Report 31, February 2008)
• Ground Water Report, Silverwood Area of the Rathdrum Prairie Sensitive Resource Aquifer (Technical Report 32. November 2008)
• The Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer Atlas: 2009 Update (2009)

Surface Water Studies and Reports

• Coeur d'Alene Lake Management Plan (March 2009)
• Coeur d'Alene River, Lower: Riverbank Stabilization Prioritization
  (October 2010)
• Coeur d'Alene River, South Fork: Application of Site-specific Water Quality Criteria Developed in Headwater Reaches to Downstream Waters (December 2002)
• Coeur d'Alene River, South Fork: Comparisons of Cadmium Criteria to the Results Toxicity Testing with Species Resident to (February 2003)
• Hauser Creek/Riley Creek: Identifying Bacteria Sources in Two Northern Idaho Streams (September 2010)
• Coeur d'Alene River, South Fork: Derivation of Acute and Chronic Criteria for Lead and Zinc (May 2002)
• Pend Oreille Lake: Montana and Idaho Border Nutrient Load Memorandum of Agreement (September 2001)
• Spokane River Water Temperature and Discharge Flow Monitoring Report (2010)
• Spokane River Water Temperature and Discharge Flow Monitoring Report (2011)