Water is our way of life, but it doesn’t protect itself

ICL’s water quality stewards are on the case

By Caitlyn Embree
Reader Contributor

Lake Pend Oreille is the heart and soul of Sandpoint. If you live here, you recreate (and rely) on the water in one way or another. Summer is officially here, and the water is once again calling us toward it. 

Water is our way of life in North Idaho — it’s how we connect and relate to each other, how we relax, recreate, meditate and center ourselves. Protecting this lake is one of the most important tasks we have at the Idaho Conservation League, and our Water Quality Monitoring Program plays a huge role in that effort.

ICL’s Water Quality Monitoring Program is a volunteer-based citizen science program, taking place on Lake Pend Oreille every summer. Over the past 15 years, the program has collected thousands of data points from water quality indicators — such as temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, total phosphorus and more — which tell us about the health of the lake. This year alone, we will collect more than 500 data points. The program’s goals are to inform the public on the health of the lake, raise alarm over any concerning finds (like toxic algae or degrading water quality) and provide high-quality scientific data for regulatory agencies to use when making decisions that will impact our local waterways. 

Though our lake is considered mostly clean and healthy, thanks to how large and deep it is, Lake Pend Oreille’s nearshore area was listed in 2002 as an impaired body of water due to mercury and phosphorus levels. As population growth spurs increased lakeside development, we will continue to see rising phosphorus levels, among other pollutants of our nearshore area. Not only is that area of shallow water highly important for aquatic life, it’s also where we all swim. ICL’s WQMP is working to establish an understanding of baseline conditions, so issues can be detected early before water quality is compromised. This way, we can proactively protect the water and keep the plants, fish and wildlife, and humans safe. 

Meanwhile, two new stations have been added to the program this year; and, if you live in Sandpoint, you know why. Last year, Chuck Slough experienced a huge toxic algae outbreak, bringing it to the forefront of the community’s awareness. ICL added a new sampling station there this year, as well as a station at Trestle Creek, due to nearby shoreline development. Trestle Creek is highly important due to the bull trout spawning habitat. We are excited to begin monitoring these two sites and establish a baseline of water quality in these places to ensure they stay protected now and into the future. 

In that spirit, the 2026 WQMP kicked off on June 16, with the first sampling of the season, marking the official start of the summer at the ICL Sandpoint office. A sunny, windy day made for a challenging sampling environment for our water stewards, but everyone made it out and collected their sample, and came back to the office with stories to share. From longtime to new stewards, the people make this program, and we are so lucky to have them. 

There are three more sampling dates this summer, so if you see our stewards out on the water, be sure to say hello and thank them for their efforts to protect our lake and monitor the water.

The data collected by stewards allows us to advocate for Lake Pend Oreille, so we can keep it swimmable, fishable and drinkable for all, for generations to come. As we continue this season, we will look for trends, outliers and notable observations to keep the community apprised of. Stay tuned for a summary of the 2026 data after the end of the season. 

This summer, do your part in protecting our beloved lake.

Caitlyn Embree is the community engagement specialist with the Idaho Conservation League.