Join us at our Upcoming Events!
Giving Tuesday & End of the Year Fundraiser!
November 30 @ 12:00 am - December 31 @ 11:59 pm PST
Keeping up with the Waterkeeper: Water Quality Monitoring Program – 10 Year Review
December 2 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm PST
Advocacy
To improve water quality by advocating and, when necessary, litigating for increased regulatory control of water pollution and for stronger enforcement of water quality-related laws.
Monitoring
Strengthen our monitoring programs to produce quality data that can be used by regulatory agencies or courts to improve water quality.
Education and Outreach
Expand education and outreach opportunities to engage greater numbers of people and influence a change in individual behaviors that cause water pollution and aquatic habitat degradation.
Read the Latest News & Press
Celebrating 10 years of water quality monitoring
For ten years, local volunteer citizen scientists have been leaning over the sides of their kayaks, canoes, or boats to either look at a black and white secchi disk or to haul up a clear tube full of lake water. Curious passersby might wonder what they are doing or...
Fall/Winter 2021 Semi-Annual Report
As 2021 comes to a close, we are happy to announce that our Fall/Winter Semi-Annual Report is finally here! This edition includes information about volunteer programs, what happened around our watershed this year, a wrap-up of this year's programs, and a note from our...
Don’t swim in the green water!
We can all agree that this has been an unusual year. This summer, the Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper (LPOW) office received calls about multiple shoreline development violations, people using soap in the lake, swimmers itch reports, and, most notably, green water. In...
How have we ended up here?
At the last public hearing to discuss the proposed amendment to shoreline regulations on Sand Creek on September 21st, Planning & Zoning Commission chairman Jason Welker simply asked everyone present, “I kinda wonder how we ended up here.” From what I’ve been...
An open letter to the City of Sandpoint RE: Proposed amendments to Sandpoint City Code – Title 9, Zoning, Chapters 1 and 2
On September 7th, LPOW Executive Director Steve Holt attended a City of Sandpoint Planning & Zoning meeting after submitting comments regarding development along Sand Creek, a major tributary to Lake Pend Oreille. The Planning Commission elected to postpone their...
The Waterkeeper Wonders… A Day in the Life of Your Waterkeeper
Waterkeeper receives message from associate that concerned citizen called regarding potential negative health issues related to swimming. Weather is hot, water warm. Your Waterkeeper knows warm water = good for little bugs, bugs not good for people. ...
Who are we?
We protect the water quality of the Clark Fork/Pend Oreille Watershed so that our local waterways remain drinkable, fishable and swimmable for future generations.
How can you help?
We are a grass roots organization that depends on community support. Our volunteers & members are the heartbeat of our organization and your support is critical.