The Basin Environmental Improvement Project Commission is inviting North Idaho residents to tour lower basin remediation sites on Wednesday, July 29, showcasing restoration efforts across some of the region’s most contaminated landscapes. The daylong excursion, running from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., will highlight wetland habitat recovery, agricultural land conversion, and sediment monitoring along the Lower Coeur d’Alene River system—projects central to cleaning up decades of mining and industrial pollution in the Panhandle.
Tour Route and Stops
Participants will gather at Scheffelmaier’s Country Barn before traveling to three primary field sites. The journey begins at Hepton Lake Willow Nursery near St. Maries, where Coeur d’Alene Tribal staff will lead discussions on wetland habitat restoration efforts underway in the lower basin. The group will break for lunch at Aqua Park in St. Maries, where the Inland Northwest Land Conservancy will discuss its conservation work in the region.
The second stop takes the tour to Grays Meadow, where Idaho Department of Fish and Game biologists will explain how approximately 700 acres of contaminated agricultural fields have been remediated and transformed into functional wetlands. This site represents a major shift from crop production to natural habitat—a key strategy in the lower basin cleanup plan.
The final destination is Rose Lake, where U.S. Geological Survey specialists will discuss sediment monitoring stations installed to track how sediment moves downstream along the Lower Coeur d’Alene River and into Coeur d’Alene Lake itself. These monitoring stations provide critical data on cleanup progress and remaining contamination migration.
What to Expect
Attendees will receive a Bird Bingo card during the tour, offering a chance to win prizes while observing local wildlife on restored lands. The outing combines technical education on basin remediation with field observation—allowing residents to see cleanup work firsthand rather than reading about it in reports.
The tour reflects the commission’s rotating schedule of annual basin tours. This year focuses on lower basin sites; in other years, the group tours upper basin or Box locations to give a comprehensive view of the recovery effort across Kootenai County and surrounding areas.
Registration and Logistics
Seating is limited, and advance registration is required. Interested participants should contact Gail Yost, executive director’s assistant, at [email protected] or 208-783-2548. Given the rural nature of the tour stops and distance between sites, attendees should plan for a full day outdoors and wear appropriate clothing for potentially variable weather.
The Coeur d’Alene Basin remains one of the nation’s most contaminated mining regions, with the lower basin—stretching from the St. Maries area downriver toward Post Falls and into Coeur d’Alene Lake—facing ongoing challenges from legacy sediment and groundwater contamination. Projects like those featured on the tour represent decades of coordination between tribal, state, federal, and private stakeholders to restore habitat and reduce human exposure to contaminants.
Why It Matters for North Idaho
The lower basin cleanup directly affects water quality, fisheries, and recreational access across Kootenai County. Wetland restoration improves wildlife habitat and water filtration; sediment monitoring helps scientists and regulators track whether contamination is being contained or continues to move into drinking water and food chains. Tours like this one allow residents to understand the scale and complexity of basin recovery work that often occurs out of public view.
Those interested in environmental restoration, fisheries management, or the Coeur d’Alene region’s long-term health are encouraged to attend. The commission’s annual tour is among the few opportunities for the public to access remediation sites directly and hear from agency experts on the ground.