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Preserving Lake Coeur d'Alene for future generations

Board of Directors is Hiring

The Coeur d'Alene Lakeshore Property Owners Association is seeking a part-time Board Secretary to manage communications between the board and members, coordinate meetings, and oversee the annual corporate status report.

The position requires 10 to 15 hours per month, pays $200 monthly, and emphasizes knowledge of basic secretarial skills as well as experience with social media for member engagement. The ideal candidate should be committed to the health of Lake Coeur d'Alene and the rights of lakeshore property owners. For more information contact: jackiemcd1952@gmail.com

Why Are There Dead Fish
​Along Lake Coeur d'Alene 

Brooklyn Coppinger NonStop Local Digital Journalist
Nov 23, 2024 Updated Nov 23, 2024
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COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho — Those unfamiliar with North Idaho's nature might be alarmed by the numerous dead fish covering the shores of Coeur d'Alene Lake that appear around November.

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) has conducted annual surveys since 1990 and traced this annual sighting of dead fish to the Chinook Salmon. According to IDFG, the Coeur d'Alene Chook Salmon finish spawning in early October and float 11 miles of Coeur d'Alene River, six miles of South Fork, and 14 miles of St. Joe River. 

In autumn, the females lay eggs that will incubate throughout the winter and hatch in the spring. According to IDFG, the old generation of Chinook Salmon die at the spawning grounds, finishing the species' life circle. The dead salmon bodies provide nutrients to the ecosystem, supporting their offspring. The multitude of dead fish is a natural process, and with the increase in the number of Chinook salmon, it is not unusual for the current to carry some fish ashore or for birds to feast on the fish and drop the remains on the beach. 

For more information on Chinook Salmon in Coeur d'Alene, visit Coeur d'Alene Lake. Chinook Salmon has a strong spawning run | Idaho Fish and Game

Daily Water Flows & Conditons

If you have been around Lake Coeur d'Alene for any extended length of time you know how our water flows and conditions change from season to season and year to year. Below is a link to data Avista provides on a daily basis. Lakeshore residents will find this interesting and informative.

https://www.myavista.com/about-us/celebrate-our-rivers/water-flow-information

Spring Brings Flooding Concerns

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May 5, 2023 - The warmer weather earlier this week and the rain on the way are a perfect storm for flooding in our area. Snows are melting and rivers are rapidly rising with lots of cold water. Lake levels are rising rapidly as a result. Be vigilant!

CLPOA Offers Educational Flyer

One of the major concerns is the increased damage and erosion caused by the increasing number and type of boats using our lakes. These boaters may love our lakes to death unless they can be educated and controlled to minimize damage.

In our continuing effort to keep the lake safe and enjoyable for everyone the board has put together this flyer to share with rental companies, marinas and lakeside businesses to help educate residents and tourists alike. If you would like a copy on the picture to print. Your Coeur d'Alene Lake Property Owners Association Board of Directors continues to work on these issues and more to preserve the health of our lake and to protect the property rights of CDA Lakeshore owners.  "Help Us Protect "Y"our Lake"
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National Academy of Sciences Study

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 30, 2022
 
National Academy of Sciences finds Coeur d’Alene Lake showing signs of recovery; further work needed to guide future efforts 
Contacts:
·     Dan McCracken, Coeur d’Alene Regional Administrator, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, Dan.McCracken@deq.idaho.gov
·     Scott Fields, Water Resources Program Manager, Coeur d’Alene Tribe, SFields@cdatribe-nsn.gov
 
BOISE — Certain water quality trends are improving in North Idaho’s iconic water body, according to the National Academy of Sciences’ (NAS) Future of Water Quality in Coeur d’Alene Lake report.
 
The report, which was released today, analyzes current and historic water quality data and provides recommendations to preserve the health of the lake. 
 
“I am pleased to see positive water quality trends in Coeur d’Alene Lake. Thanks to the diligent research of the National Academy of Sciences, we are better informed about the work we are doing in Idaho. This data will allow DEQ to strategically implement the $20 million from the Leading Idaho initiative alongside our partners. I appreciate the engagement of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe and Kootenai County. We can continue these positive trends if we all work together,” said Governor Brad Little.
 
“I think we have seen renewed vigor in the region’s collective desire to protect Coeur d’Alene Lake,” said Chairman Chief Allan. “This is exciting because although we know that the lake has been the heart of the Coeur d’Alene people for thousands of years, we also recognize its importance to the entire region. It is critical to the Tribe that we use this NAS report as a starting point that leads to more actions,” he added.
 
In 2020, the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, Kootenai County, and the US Environmental Protection Agency, with the support of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, asked the National Academy of Sciences to analyze water quality data in Coeur d’Alene Lake and provide recommendations to address issues of concern.
 
The study provided a third-party assessment of water quality data collected over the last three decades. The review focused on historic and recent trends in nutrients and dissolved oxygen in order to fully understand the state of the lake and identify the most appropriate protection measures.
 
Caj Matheson, director of the Tribe’s Department of Natural Resources, said, “It will be important for us to increase our project work around the lake as well as to follow up on the studies suggested by the report. We are seeing some positive trends but those trends are short and the report also shows that it is the lake’s oxygen levels that, if they are too low, will trigger the release of those metals from their rest on the bottom of the Lake into the main water column. These studies will help us better understand all the issues related to this phenomenon.”
 
“We appreciate the thoroughness and expertise that NAS brought to this review process. We believe that the conclusions from this study indicate that our management and remediation activities are working as intended, but continued action is needed to safeguard the health of our lake. We look forward to working in partnership with Governor Little, the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, and local stakeholders to prioritize this essential work,” said Jess Byrne, director of the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality.”
 
To help kickstart preservation efforts, Governor Little established the Coeur d’Alene Lake Advisory Committee in 2021 and directed $2 million for projects that reduce levels of phosphorus from entering the lake from wastewater, stormwater runoff, erosion, and other sources. The following year, Governor Little made available an additional $20 million for projects that support the state’s 2009 Lake Management Plan and reduce nutrient loading to Coeur d’Alene Lake.

The National Academy of Sciences report is available at https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/26620/the-future-of-water-quality-in-coeur-dalene-lake.  DEQ is reviewing the information and will begin conversations with stakeholders throughout the Coeur d’Alene Basin to determine a path forward for managing the lake.
 
For those interested in learning more, the Our Gem Collaborative is hosting a presentation by the National Academy of Sciences on November 15, 2022, from 8 am to 12 pm at the Hagadone Event Center in Coeur d’Alene. Registration information for the seminar is available at https://spokaneriver.net/events/our-gem-symposium/.  
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Idaho Department of Environmental Quality https://www.deq.idaho.gov/

National Academy of Sciences
to ​Study Lake CDA Data

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 Your CLPOA board of directors has been following the progress toward the start of the data study to be done by the National Academy of Sciences and funded by the State of Idaho and other stakeholders including Kootenai County. Follow the link below to see the decisions by the Kootenai County Board of Commissioners. 
​CDA Press Article: https://cdapress.com/news/2020/dec/15/coeur-dalene-lake-study-moves-forward/

Here is a link to the National Academy of Sciences page discussing their study. 
​https://www.nationalacademies.org/our-work/the-future-of-water-quality-in-coeur-dalene-lake -2021


RESPONSIBLE BOATING PSA VIDEOS


Board of Directors

Greg Delavan, President of the Board  
3665 Boothe Park Road
Coeur d'Alene, ID  83814              Walkers Bay    
delavansmarina@gmail.com  (208) 661-5900

Jim Head        Vice President                                       
28515 S. Hwy-97
Harrison, ID  83833                        Turner Bay
head642@aol.com

Peg Carver      Treasurer                                                
2301 Cromwell Dr.
St. Maries,  ID, 83861                       St. Joe River
pc60atsm@gmail.com

Jeremy Humlicek
6499 E. Coeur d’Alene Lake Drive
Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814               Bennett Bay
jhumlicekd@gmail.com

John Magnuson                             
P.O. Box 2350
Coeur d’Alene, ID 83816                Kidd Island Bay
john@magnusononline.com

Tom Handy
4505 State Route 270
Pullman, WA  99163                      Cottonwood Bay
handy@turbonet.com​

Rich Meyer
P. O. Box 50
Harrison, ID 83833                         Powderhorn Bay
​meyer2003@msn.com​

​Stan Covey
211 S Getaway Ct.
Harrison, ID 83833                          Turner Bay
stangcovey@gmail.com

Tarie Zimmerman
4413 S Westway Drive
Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814                Kidd Island Bay
480-209-3473
tarieAZB@gmail.com
​

Tom Carver 
2301 Cromwell Dr.
St. Maries,  ID, 83861                       St. Joe River
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Mission Statement
What is now known as the Coeur d'Alene Lakeshore Property Owners Association was incorporated as the Coeur d'Alene Lake Property Owners and Taxpayers Protective Association, Inc. in Idaho in November of 1964.

1964 Purpose:
  • To form an association of owners of property in the waters and lands of Coeur d'Alene Lake drainage area in Idaho and to promote sound and progressive development of the waters of said lake, its tributaries and lakeshore property.
  • To encourage development of lakeshore property, installation of navigational aids and all other development that will improve the lake and enhance property values of contiguous property.
  • To promote all forms of water safety, safety education, safety rules and regulations and the enforcement thereof.
  • To oppose discriminatory treatment of lakeshore or Coeur d'Alene Lake drainage area property owners by taxing or other public authority. Generally to take any and all action deemed advisable by the corporation to represent the common interests of the owners of property on Lake Coeur d'Alene and its drainages. ​

Important Remberances


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 In the month of April our community lost two men who made important contributions to the Coeur d'Alene Lakeshore Property Owners Association. Their passing takes much history with them about the lake and the community at large. 

Duane Hagadone was one of the founding members of the CLPOA and most certainly had an impact on this community. Here is a link to his memorial in the CDA Press.  ​https://cdapress.com/news/2021/apr/30/duane-burl-hagadone-88-CDA/  
Also in the CDA Press there was a wonderful article by David Kilmer about Mr. Hagadone and his life. You can read it here: Visionary Developer Duane Hagadone Remembered 
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Rusty (Clyde) Sheppard was a long time member of the Spokane River Association and a member of the CLPOA board as a representative of that organization. He had vast knowledge of the waterways in our area and the challenges that come with keeping them healthy. His knowledge and dedication will be missed. Here is the link to the tribute for Rusty. ​https://cdapress.com/news/2021/apr/27/clyde-rusty-henry-sheppard/ ​

​Eurasian Milfoil Ale​rt​

If your waterfront got overrun by milfoil this summer you’re not alone.  Eurasian Milfoil growth increased by as much as 300% this year in the chain lakes and many spots along the river and main lake.  It’s a nasty, noxious weed that, once it gets a foothold, can be hard to get rid of.  It’s poor habitat for waterfowl, fish and other wildlife and interferes with recreational activities such as swimming, boating, fishing, snorkeling and water skiing.

The State of Idaho put a plan together in 2008 entitled “Statewide Strategic Plan for Eurasian Watermilfoil in Idaho”. It’s some pretty dry reading but it does a good job of identifying the problem and proposing some solutions.  I’ll save you the torture of reading all 85 pages, here’s what you need to know:
    

Its rapid growth rate allows EM to displace native aquatic vegetation within just a few growing seasons.  Growing in water from 3 to 30 feet it starts its spring growth earlier than most species allowing it to grow to the surface quickly and build a dense canopy that keeps more desirable plant life at bay.  It spreads by the dispersal of plant fragments meaning boats, propellers and trailers play the largest role in introducing the plant to new bodies of water and further spreading it in bodies where it already exists.
     

So what to do?  As per the 2007 Idaho Weed Law (who knew there was such a thing) “Eurasian watermilfoil is considered a noxious weed in Idaho and as such, treatment is considered mandatory.  What can an individual do, what is restricted?  Here are some ideas:
  • BOTTOM MATS--one option is to place bottom barriers or mats on the lake floor.  This requires an inexpensive permit from the Idaho Department of Lands and can be successful in controlling the growth in small areas such as under docks and around water trampolines.  The barriers can be difficult to keep in place and if silt settles on top the milfoil can simply grow on top of the mats so they take some maintenance.  Placement can also be difficult and may require a diver based on water depth and other factors.
  • HAND PULLING—if you’ve lived with milfoil you’ve already done some of this.  It’s tough to do right.  If you don’t pull the root out you’ve, at best, bought a little time.  If you do pull the root out your water will likely get stirred up and you soon won’t be able to see well enough to pull any more out.  If you break off a branch it will start a new plant wherever it lands, doing as much harm as good.  We tried this with a diver and a month later couldn’t see where we had worked. 
  • CUT RAKING—essentially throwing a sharpened bar into the water then dragging it across the bed, cutting the milfoil.  This can be a reasonable temporary fix if done often enough. Not a bad solution if you’re just trying to clear some space for the kids to swim but it runs the risk of breaking limbs off and starting new growth.  Most of what you cut will rise to the top of the water, you need to remove as much of the floating milfoil as possible to keep it from reseeding.
  • DIVER DREDGING—divers use portable dredges with suction heads that pull the plants and roots.  I don’t know anyone that has used this method, it is reportedly labor intensive and costly.  I’d welcome comments from anyone familiar with this process. 
  • ROTOVATION—essentially a barge-mounted rototilling machine with blades that churn up to 8” into the sediment and pull the plants up by the roots.  Control can last two growing seasons or more.   I am not aware of any such machine currently existing in our region.
  • CHEMICAL CONTROLS—2,4-D under trade names like AquaKleen or Navigate and Endothall have been proven to be effective in many areas especially when combined with pulling or raking.  Since landowners don’t own the water in front of their house they aren’t legally allowed to treat the water without being certified.  There are a few certified applicators in our region but none returned my calls when I inquired about treatments last spring.  An individual can get certified if they so desire AND have the time.
 
     I’ve met with the local Noxious Aquatic Weeds staff and know they are concerned about the increase in EM.  Fact of the matter is they simply don’t have the funds to really address the issue, an issue that promises to worsen every year.   It seems they are somewhat “complaint driven” meaning the more people reporting the problem in an area the more attention it is likely to get and the better the chance of some eradication funding.  



The CLPOA could serve as a strong voice as it has on many important issues in the past.  Let us know your EM story.  Is it getting worse in your area?  Is it impeding recreation?  Have you tried something that has worked?  Let’s get our common experiences logged together and we’ll see what the state agencies can do for us since, in their own words, “treatment is considered mandatory” and it is the State of Idaho, not the adjacent landowners, that is responsible for the health of our waterways.

Idaho Supreme Court Rules
on Lake Levels

Coeur d'Alene Press Article
LEVEL DECISION
September 07, 2019 at 5:00 am | By RALPH BARTHOLDT Staff Writer

The Coeur d’Alene Tribe will not have a say on lake levels, nor will it have control of water outside the reservation boundaries according to an Idaho Supreme Court ruling released Thursday, which upholds an earlier decision by a Twin Falls district court.
​
The Idaho Supreme Court in a close decision ruled 3-2 in favor of an earlier ruling by the water adjudication court that said the Tribe will not have jurisdiction over water outside the reservation, and the court in a unanimous decision said the Tribe’s ownership of the southern third of Lake Coeur d’Alene does not afford it the legal right to control lake levels.

Click here for link to complete article: https://www.cdapress.com/local_news/20190907/level_decision




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