Protecting Clean Air & Water
Every Idaho child deserves clean air and water. From the contaminated soils of the Silver Valley, to urban smog, to toxic algae outbreaks—pollution is harming too many Idaho families. That’s why the Idaho Conservation League works to make sure our public health and environmental laws are followed fairly and consistently, and that polluters pay their fair share to clean up the messes they create. ICL shows up with knowledge and practical solutions that make sure our future is healthy and prosperous for all Idahoans.
Our long-term goal is to ensure that Idaho’s air and waters and as protected as possible, polluters are held accountable, and Idaho has clean air and clean water now and for future generations.
ICL works to ensure that environmental permits, regulations, and related actions in Idaho are as protective as possible and appropriately enforced so that our environment is sustained in a natural and healthy way. We are the watchdog for the air you breathe and the water you drink, keeping you updating on news impacting Idaho’s air and water and how you can take action.
Protecting the Air You Breathe and the Water you Drink
Clean air and water is at the heart of much of ICL’s work.
We review every Clean Water Act permit in Idaho. We have conservation initiatives focused on the waters of North Idaho and the Snake River in southern Idaho. We also monitor groundwater, wastewater treatment plants, and toxic algae blooms to keep Idahoans informed about threats to water quality across the state.
ICL also protects public health by working to reduce air pollution from industrial activity and tracking any new laws or regulations that impact the air you breathe. We participate in collaborative groups to build healthy, resilient forests better suited to handle wildfires and climate change—while working to reduce Idaho’s contribution to climate change. We work hard to ensure Idaho’s land, water, and air are protected from pollution, degradation, and outright destruction.
CLEAN WATER
Toxic Algae
Idaho is joining states across the United States that are seeing more and more outbreaks of toxic algae—specific types of algae and bacteria that can seriously harm humans and animals. The most common toxic algae is cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, though they can be many colors, including blue, green, red, or brown. Algae outbreaks, or “blooms,” occur when water bodies become warm and full of pollutants like nitrogen and phosphorus – creating ideal conditions for the uncontrolled growth of algae. The bigger the outbreak, the more likely that toxic cyanobacteria will form.
If ingested, toxic algae pose a serious risk to our liver, kidneys, and nervous or digestive systems. Ingestion isn’t the only risk though, as swimming, wading, or even walking by water infested with toxic algae can irritate the eyes, throat, and skin. Many Idaho communities rely on tourism to support their economies. No community deserves the stigma of having a water body plagued by toxic algae that threatens their health and impacts their local economy.
CLEAN WATER
Wastewater Treatment Plants
Nearly every city in Idaho is located on the banks of a river or lake. Why? Because these water bodies play a key role in getting rid of a community’s sewage. When someone flushes a toilet, the contents do not go straight into the river. This sewage is first processed in the community’s wastewater treatment plant. Treated wastewater, also called effluent, is then often discharged to a lake or river—but treatment plants must have a permit to do so. These permits set limits on the amount of pollution that’s allowed to flow into our rivers and lakes. So why is ICL involved? Because over 50% of treatment plants in Idaho are failing to meet the requirements of their permits, a violation of the Clean Water Act.
CLEAN WATER
Protecting Idaho’s Groundwater
The Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer (ESPA) holds as much water as Lake Erie and supplies drinking water to over 300,000 Idahoans, but it’s increasingly impacted by contamination that is directly attributable to human activities across the Snake River Plain. For instance, the estimated 425,00 dairy cows in the Magic Valley create as much manure as a city of 12 million people—if that city had no wastewater treatment plants. The nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilizer, animal waste, and other sources far exceed what typical crops can uptake, with the remainder susceptible to leaching into the groundwater. ICL’s Groundwater Report summarizes all of the available data and scientific literature so you can understand what’s going on with your drinking water.
CLEAN AIR
Protecting Idaho’s Clean Air
Clean air is at the heart of much of ICL’s work. ICL participates in collaborative groups to build healthy, resilient forests better suited to handle wildfires and climate change. It drives ICL’s ambition to make Idaho a leader in renewable energy and electrified transportation. And it’s the reason ICL strives to protect public health—by working to reduce air pollution from industrial activity and tracking any new laws or regulations that impact the air you breathe.
