Our Lake for Life: Keeping You Informed

Our Lake for Life:
Keeping You Informed

Vol. 2

Feb. 2012

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WATERKEEPER Magazine.

Hello lovers of Lake Pend Oreille,

Welcome to the second edition of Our Lake For Life. We will continue to send out periodic e-newsletters such as this to make sure you, our members, are kept up to speed with important information. It is essential for our community to know what is going on with Lake Pend Oreille, so that when action is needed to protect it, we will all be ready to step up and do what is right.

In this issue, we'll discuss how Big Coal wants to export tons and tons of dirty coal, right through your back yard, and how bad this could be for our health, safety, and the environment, particularly water quality! We've also included information about two aquatic invasive species that have been gaining more attention, and what you can do to help prevent their spread. On the far column, learn about the greater Waterkeeper Alliance, of which we are a proud member, and how we need to come together to advocate for the Clean Water Act (in its 40th year)!

Thank you for caring and taking a moment to be informed!

Please share with others.

What if every day, over 40 ADDITIONAL, 1.5 mile long trains full of dirty uncovered COAL came through our community, degrading water quality, halting emergency response, spewing diesel particulates and coal dust, shaking our homes, threatening our health and safety? This is a very real possibility, as coal companies are looking to make it a reality. Our community would not benefit one bit if this proposed project is approved. There will be no economic benefit for this region: no new jobs created, no revenue, nothing!

Join us for a public forum on Thursday, March 1st at 6:30pm. We will bring local officials and additional experts together to educate our community about this important issue. Brought to you by the Sierra Club and Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper. Stay tuned for more details. We are working hard on bringing you valuable information so our community can be correctly informed about this issue.

We will need to speak up, so our voice is heard!

Please join us!

Flowering Rush:
Another Nasty Weed Invading Our Lake

Flowering Rush (Butomus umbellatus) is an aquatic invasive plant (weed) that is now found in Lake Pend Oreille. It has been a growing problem in Flathead Lake in Montana. Since we are down stream from Flathead Lake, it is possible that rhizomes of the plant could have floated down to us from Flathead. Other possible sources are transport by boats (rhizomes getting stuck on propellers, trailers, etc.) or possibly, an individual planted it as an ornamental not knowing the devastating consequences it would have on the ecosystem.

Flowering rush is a very difficult weed to battle. Aquatic herbicides have very limited success in controlling this plant, and hand pulling of it needs to be done very carefully to completely remove all the rhizomes. Outside of spreading the weed through broken rhizomes, Flowering Rush is a very slowly reproducing plant as it rarely, if at all, produces seeds. Human activities are the main reason this plant can become so widely established, as we recreate in areas that are infested with it, and disturb it.
One easy way to help prevent the spread of this invader, and other invasive species as well is to Clean, Drain and Dry your boat when transporting it from one area to another.

Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper is working with other local environmental groups to coordinate a volunteer weed pull for Flowering Rush this spring. Stay tuned for details!

Have You Seen These Clams?
A small amount of the invasive Asian Clam has been spotted in the Hope Marina area. In Lake Tahoe, swift action was not taken to control these invasives and a large section of shoreline became infested, disrupting the ecosystem and degrading water quality.

They are typically found in shallow sandy areas of less than 6 feet depth, so they should be on dry ground currently considering the draw down of the lake. They are small yellow or brownish in color, about the size of a dime, and have concentric ridges. For a bit more information, click here.

In This Issue

Sandpoint Coal Hard Truth

Aquatic Invasives: Flowering Rush and Asian Clams

What are other local Waterkeepers up to?

Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper is part of the U.S. Pacific Region of the Waterkeeper Alliance. The U.S. Pacific region includes Waterkeepers whose waterways drain to the Pacific Ocean, from Alaska to the U.S.-Mexico border. In all, there are currently 28 Waterkeepers in this region working hard to protect our waters. Here are just a few of their recent accomplishments; we hope to add our landmark accomplishments to this list:

-San Francisco Baykeeper won a landmark ruling that requires EPA to regulate vessel discharges nationwide and keep invasive species out of local waters.

-Columbia Riverkeeper

defeated two new coal-fired power plants on the Columbia River, and this month prevailed in shutting down Oregon's only coal fired power plant.

Read more here

-San Diego Coastkeeper

filed lawsuits challenging three state agencies' approval of the largest proposed desalination facility in the Western hemisphere. If built, the 50 Million Gallons per Day (MGD) facility will take in 300 MGD of water from the Agua Hedionda Lagoon and contribute over 100,000 metric tons of CO2 to the atmosphere.

-California Coastkeeper Alliance

settled litigation against the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) for their failure to determine the flows needed to support fish and wildlife.

There are so many more victories to mention, worldwide. At the annual Waterkeeper Alliance conference, for example, it takes most of a day to introduce each organization and a brief mention of their accomplishments.

The Clean Water Act: Under Attack

The Clean Water Act is the most effective tool we have to protect our right to clean water, and a model for environmental legislation world wide. We need your help to protect the Clean Water Act!

Waterkeeper Alliance is officially launching its Clean Water Act 40 Campaign to celebrate, activate and advocate for the Clean Water Act during the 40th anniversary of this landmark legislation. Throughout 2012, Waterkeeper Alliance will be working with partners to engage communities across the nation to stand up for their basic right to swimmable, drinkable and fishable water. We will not allow polluters to undermine 40 years-worth of clean water protections.

Talk to your legislators today!

(click on their name for contact and bio info)

Sen. Michael D. Crapo (R-ID)

Sen. James E. Risch (R-ID)

Rep. Raul R. Labrador (R-ID)

President Barack Obama(D)

For an inspirational article by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Waterkeeper Alliance's founder, president, and Time Magazine's ˜Hero of the planet" click here:

Clean Water Safeguards Headed Down the Drain?

Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper

Pollution Hotline 208.597.7188

Staff:

Shannon Williamson, PhD.

Executive Director and Waterkeeper

Jace Bylenga

Outreach Coordinator

Are you a proud supporter of Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper?

Well then, show it!

Purchase a Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper Water Bottle for only $15! These 26 oz. stainless steel bottles are a perfect way to show your support for Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper. They fit in standard sized cup holders, are very durable, and if you put something other than water in them, it is easy to wash out any residual tastes. To purchase one, call 208-597-7188 or email jace@lakependoreillewaterkeeper.org

Hurry while supplies last!

If you make a tax deductible donation of $250 or more, you will receive a water bottle, t-shirt AND subscription to Waterkeeper Magazine. Donate today!