Coeur d’Alene Lake, located in Idaho’s Panhandle, has long been a hub for recreation, tourism, and other economic activity. The area is also home to historical mining activity, and millions of tons of metals-laden sediments (e.g., zinc, lead, and cadmium) are present in the lake bottom. Recent land uses continue to contribute to excess nutrient loading, especially phosphorus. Although phosphorus is essential for life, elevated phosphorus levels can affect the dissolved oxygen levels in deep water near the lakebed where these metals are contained. Low oxygen levels can unlock metals contained in the sediment and release them into the environment.
Although metals levels have generally improved over the last several decades, phosphorus levels have increased since the 1990s. Managing phosphorus levels is critical to protecting the health of Coeur d’Alene Lake. In 2021, Governor Little established the Coeur d’Alene Lake Advisory Committee and directed $2 million in Leading Idaho funds for projects that reduce phosphorus and improve water quality in Coeur d’Alene Lake. The following year, Governor Little directed an additional $35 million from the American Rescue Plan Act funds to further the Leading Idaho effort.
The Coeur d’Alene Lake Advisory Committee solicited project proposals in August 2021 and recommended funding for 19 projects, and project implementation began. Many of these projects are complete, and remaining projects will be completed by the end of 2026.
DEQ’s Coeur d’Alene Lake Advisory Committee storymap story map provides more information about these projects.
Leading Idaho Funding Overview
The following is a summary of Leading Idaho projects:
| Project Name | Leading Idaho Funding | Estimated Phosphorus Reduction to Coeur d’Alene Lake (Annually) | Project Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of Kellogg Stormwater Management Upgrades (Phases 1, 2, and 3) | $2.41 million | 700 pounds | In Progress |
| Third Street Avenue Stormwater Outfall Volume Reduction Project | $361,142 | 35 pounds | Complete |
| Risk-Based Evaluation of Selected Recreational Areas in Coeur d’Alene Lake and Spokane River | $862,000 | NA—Guide future decisions about health evaluations or mitigation activities. | Complete |
| Wolf Lodge Creek Improvement Project | $158,337 | 94 pounds | Complete |
| Schlagel Draw Road Sediment Management Project | $24,293 | 10 pounds | Complete |
| North Fork Coeur d’Alene Riverbank Stabilization Project | $44,027 | 12 pounds | Complete |
| Santa-Fernwood Wastewater Reuse Project | $7.01 million | 660 pounds | In Progress |
| Page Wastewater Treatment Plant Tertiary Treatment System | $21.4 million | 7,015 pounds (to the Coeur d’Alene River) | In Progress |
| St. Joe River Basin Nutrient Source Inventory | $1.2 million | NA—Identify and prioritize effective nutrient management actions. | In Progress |
| Coeur d’Alene Lake Science Coordination Team | $130,538 | NA—Establish priorities and guide future decisions on Coeur d’Alene Lake. | In Progress |
| Northside Stormwater Drainage Improvements (Sunnyside Road) | $643,830 | NA—Decrease sediment discharge to Coeur d’Alene Lake. | Complete |
| Kellogg Joint School District 391 Stormwater Improvements | $745,000 | 41 pounds (to the South Fork Coeur d’Alene River) | Complete |
| Mica Creek Floodplain Access Improvement Project | $56,512 | 200 pounds | Complete |
| Coeur d’Alene Stormwater Outfall Volume Reduction | $1.4 million | 280 pounds | Complete |
| Northside Stormwater Drainage Improvements (Marmot Trail Road) | $14,100 | NA—Decrease sediment discharge to Coeur d’Alene Lake. | Complete |
| Mica Creek Watershed Agricultural Sediment Reduction and Improvement Project (Phase 2) | $49,024 | 50 pounds | Complete |
| Coeur d’Alene Lake Comprehensive Coring Project | $200,000 | NA—Provide information to guide future decisions. | In Progress |
Lake Management Plan Supervisor