Hot News As It Develops

04/2010
Q’emiln Park Opening

Q’emiln Park boat launch in 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2007 opened the first week of June. All of those years the inflow into the lake for April to July period was in the 60-60% of normal range. The current projection from the NW River Forecast Center is for the inflow into the lake to be only 44% of normal. Therefore it’s pretty safe to say that the spill gates will probably be closed near first week of June again this year.

The snow pack at Lookout Pass is 48% of normal.

03/2010
Status of NPDES Permits

During the past couple of weeks a lot of news have been reported concerning the current controversy between the Idaho wastewater treatment plants and the WA Dept. of Ecology.  The nutrient allotments (Phosphate level) for the Spokane River, to the surprise of no one on the ID side of the border, the nutrient loading in the Spokane River was more for the Idaho wastewater treatment plants than for the WA wastewater treatment plants.  It was also reported that the ID cities were planning to enter into a “Dispute Resultion” with the WA Dept of Ecology.  The basis for their claim is that the scientific data does not support the Dept of Ecology finding, in their TMDL, for the phosphate levels allocated to ID.  The ID wastewater treatment plants maintains their allocation is not attainable using current technology.  If the ID cities loose their appeal, they will then probably sue in WA courts for relieve from the nutrient allocations.

Thanks,
Rusty Sheppard

07/2009
”NO WAKE” Proposal on Spokane River

Click HERE to read the memo written by SRA President regarding the “NO WAKE” proposal on Spokane River.

07/2009
Letter to DEQ and CDA Tribe Memo

Click HERE to read the memo written by SRA President to DEQ/CDA Tribe.

01/2009
DEQ and CDA Tribe Memo Response

Representative Frank Henderson
District 5 , House of Representatives
Boise . Idaho

Subject: Response to Your Memo (Apology) to DEQ and CDA Tribe regarding Coeur d’ alene Lake LMP

Sir:

We were very disappointed with your actions regarding “your apology” to DEQ and CDA Tribe. The information in your Memo stated that all the county commissioners were asking for was to act in an “Advisory Capacity” which is untrue. They have never requested the advisory capacity regarding the CDA LMP, but they are asking to be a full partners in all actions in “LMP work” on lands under jurisdiction of the counties, which has been interrupted as all uplands surrounding CDA Lake and their tributaries, excluding tribal trust lands.

There were two other errors in your Response the first being their opposition to an information center manned by DEQ and the CDA Tribe, and second opposition to the 3 year study proposed to identify the source of nutrient input to the lake and third their desire to start immediate work on the Coeur d’ Alene and St. Joe riverbanks to stem their large input of nutrients to the lake (e.g., USGS estimates approximately 84% of phosphate loading comes from the two rivers in the 2004-2006 study).

Regarding the issue of “real” input to the implementation of the Proposed LMP, as we understand, the change in your position was based on some information given to legislators by Director Hardesy of DEQ. We have been not privileged to know what her comments were, but the way they have been publicized in the local press is that they (comments) are not entirely true. She was reported to have said or insinuated that the CDA Lake LMP was part of the BEIPC Commission's mandate and they were providing “Oversight” on the implementation of the LMP. This information was provided to the county commissioners in the copy of the reply to comments to the draft LMP by DEQ and CDA Tribe, December 8, 2008. This is false since the Executive Director has been expressly instructed by some of the BEIPC Commissioners as not to participate in the LMP process. Additionally, the only CDA Lake LMP recognized by BEIPC is the 1996 LMP written under the authority of the CLEAN LAKES COUNCIL in the early 1990’s. The only entities that prepared and and propose to implement the current document is DEQ, CDA Tribe, EPA and the EPA facilitator (drafting only). DEQ’s assertion that the local governments participated either thru the Basin Commission or otherwise is untrue. There was no consultation during the development of the LMP, but only “we are doing this ” and “we can’t discuss it because it is in secret negotiations process” statements made by DEQ during the counties meetings with DEQ representatives. Any “agreements or understandings” made during those meetings between DEQ and County commissioners and their Technical Reps were subsequently revised before and reported on at the follow meetings.

For your information, a clearly defined position on the CDA Lake LMP by the three county's (Shoshone. Benawah and Kootenai Cos.) commissioners is attached. The stated position respectively requests the Idaho Dept of Environmental Quality to follow the procedures of the Idaho code 39=3611 as amended by House Bill 145, TMDL and/or Equivalent Processes preparation rules.

Therefore, it is the position of the Board of Directors of the Spokane River Association that the "position" of the Commissioners of Benawah, Shoshone and Kootenai Counties in the current dispute is the counties position and we fully support them and their efforts in their “controversy” with DEQ and The CDA Tribe. We respectfully request that you re=evaluate your position on the LMP and strengthen your support for the Local Government’s active involvement in the LMP Process. The Spokane River Association stands ready to discuss these issues at your convenience.

Very truly Yours

Steve Shammion, President

11/2008
Post Falls Boat Ramp to Close for Season; Annual Closure begins Wednesday Nov. 12, 2008

SPOKANE, Wash. – Nov. 7, 2008: The Q’emiln Park boat launch ramp on the Spokane River in Post Falls, Idaho will be closed for the season beginning Wednesday Nov. 12. The ramp, located upstream of Avista Utilities’ Post Falls Hydroelectric Development, is typically closed each year in mid-November due to weather conditions and dropping water levels.

The boat launch must remain closed for safety reasons whenever water is spilled through gates at the Post Falls Dam, which is the case for much of the fall through spring. The ramp will re-open in the late spring or early summer, depending on the amount of inflows into Coeur d’Alene Lake

As a result of Avista’s annual drawdown of Coeur d’Alene Lake, Spokane River levels above the dam will be approximately 3.5 feet below summer elevation on Nov.12. Water levels may drop by as much as three additional feet by the end of January. These water levels are subject to change due to weather conditions.

Avista has a 24-hour telephone information line that provides notification of anticipated elevation changes on Coeur d’Alene Lake, Lake Spokane and the Spokane River during the subsequent 24-hour and one-week periods. In Idaho, call (208) 769-1357; in Washington call (509) 495-8043.

10/2008
To read the memo written by our President, Steve Shamion, to The Honorable Dirk Kempthorne Secretary of the U.S. Department of Interior regarding Cd’A Tribe/Avista Post Falls Hydroelectric Project Settlement, click HERE.

10/2008
CDA Press Editorial: Another view of the Lake Plan Document Editorial. To read the article, click HERE.

09/2008
Cda Press Editorial: Some folks are acting like the Coeur d'Alene Lake Management Plan just sped through town and left without offering to punch their tickets. The train actually started huffing and puffing a full quarter century ago. The read the whole editorial, click HERE.

09/2008
See a copy of the memo that was sent from our President, Steve Shamion, to Idaho Parks and Recreation regarding Sheriff’s Boathouse at Templin’s Marine, click HERE.

05/2008
We’re all concerned right now about the rising water levels. As a results, there have been a few members asking about water levels from the Cd’A Lake to Post Falls Dam. Click HERE to see a chart depicting water surface elevations.

11/2007
See a copy of a letter that was sent from our President, Steve Shamion, to Pal Mahar, Avista Utilities regarding the great job he’s doing on controlling our river levels. Click HERE to read the letter.

09/2007
Did you see the KXLY4 Labor Day 2007 News? If not click on the link to watch the video: http://www.spokanetogo.com/news-video/?id=7879. If you’re unable to watch the video, click HERE to read the story.

04/2007
A copy of an email sent from our Environmental Chair, Rusty Sheppard, on April 5, 2007. Rusty gave testimony before an EPA hearing officer on April 4 at the Cd’A Senior Center on the draft NPDES permits for the Spokane River. Read all about it by clicking HERE.
If you have any questions, email Rusty at chsheppard@adelphia.net

03/2007
This is of an email sent from our President, Steve Shamion, to Senator Goedde on March 19, 2007 regarding some new legislation pertinent to drainfield size requirements. Check it out by clicking HERE.
If you have any questions, email Steve at SLShamion@aol.com