Are you passionate about clean water? Do you feel the need to get out of town? If you answered yes to these two questions, then check out the Rally for Clean Water on September 15th in Washington DC!
Please help us keep Lake Pend Oreille swimmable, fishable and drinkable for future generations and donate today!
Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper Pollution Hotline
208-597-7188
Our Lake For Life
Keeping You Informed!
Volume 5 - August 2012
Summer is in full swing and it certainly has been a busy season for Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper! In this newsletter, I'll share the highlights as well as information on some important issues that are influencing local water quality. LPOW's mission is to protect Lake Pend Oreille and its associated waters so that they remain swimmable, drinkable and fishable for future generations. Our programs depend on your support, so please consider donating or becoming a member or volunteer today!
Sincerely,
Shannon J. Williamson, Ph.D. Executive Director Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper
Thanks to generous support from the Confidence Foundation, we were able to create a brand new website! AllerGale Design, located in Sandpoint, did an excellent design job and were an absolute pleasure to work with. The new website has tons of new features including up to date water quality data from our Water Quality Monitoring Program, information on our priority issues and current projects, an interactive events calendar, volunteer opportunities and more! Check it out!
Water Quality Monitoring is underway:
Our volunteers are the best! We've completed two months of water quality monitoring, collecting samples from 11 locations around Lake Pend Oreille and the Pend Oreille River, all thanks to the generous efforts of our volunteers. Each month, a suite of physical, chemical and biological parameters are measured to assess the relative "health" of the lake and river. You can see the results for yourself on our new website! Check back frequently for updates through October.
LPOW assists No Coal Export in video production:
A group of activists from several organizations such as Greenpeace, 350.org and Fuse Washington traveled approximately 1,000 miles along the same railways that are slated to carry millions of tons of dirty coal from Montana and Wyoming to the coasts of Washington and Oregon for export to China. Sandpoint is located along this unfortunate route. LPOW assisted the group in their filming efforts on Lake Pend Oreille as well as a community gathering at City Beach to spread the word about the harmful effects of coal transport and export. Check out the No Coal Exports Caravan Wrap Up video here and be inspired!
Eurasian Watermilfoil is no match for divers:
The removal of Eurasian Watermilfoil at City Beach and the Windbag Marina is underway! Divers will be in the water for the next several weeks, removing the aquatic invasive weed from swimming and boating areas to ensure safe recreation, all without the use of herbicides. LPOW is helping to fund the City of Sandpoint's efforts to use ecologically friendly techniques to effectively manage aquatic invasive weeds in Lake Pend Oreille. To learn more about the program, read the recent news article in the Bonner County Daily Bee.
Photo courtesy of Steve Neff
Herbicide treatment planned for Perch Bay:
Unfortunately, not all areas of Lake Pend Oreille will be herbicide-free this season. Herbicide treatment (using Triclopyr) of Perch Bay is planned for the week of August 30th-September 6th. Notices of Water Use Restriction were posted door to door in the Perch Bay area by the herbicide applicator, Clean Lakes, prior to August 16th. To learn more about the notice of water use restriction and to view a map of the intended treatment area, click here. LPOW will monitor the application process, collecting water samples for herbicide analysis, to ensure that the treatment complies with label requirements.
