The mission of the Hayden Lake Watershed Improvement District is to protect and enhance the quality of the water and the environment within the Hayden Lake Watershed.
The Hayden Lake Watershed Improvement District (HWLID) comprises all sections of land that intersect the Hayden Lake Watershed at any point. As such, the District includes the vast federal lands of the north-east portion of the watershed. It also incorporates some areas just beyond the watershed boundary. The representative body, that being the HWLID Board of Directors, began its work of protecting and enhancing the quality of Hayden Lake and its watershed in January 2015.
The District works in partnership with the Hayden Lake Watershed Association to accomplish its mission. The District maintains a small, efficient operational structure, enabling it to focus expenditures on projects relevant to the watershed. Therefore, independent contractors complete all work in the District such that the District has no employees.
The Work of the District
-
Water quality sampling is essential for assessing the health of the lake. The District has been collecting and analyzing water samples for years in oder to determine trends regarding the presence and concentration of nutrients and phytoplankton. By monitoring water quality, the Board can make informed decisions about water quality management and protection.In addition, the District continues to observe construction on and around the lake, encouraging Best Management Practices to help minimize environmental impacts and ensure sustainable practices during construction.
- The growing frequency of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) in the shallow areas of Hayden Lake is concerning, particularly because Hayden Lake provides drinking water and in-water recreation. The District worked to obtain a drinking water grant for researchers to identify the primary factors that contribute to HABs and propose potential solutions to better protect our drinking water supply and overall water quality.
- Ice and winter storms sometimes rip apart docks and downed trees. Spring’s rising water can set that debris adrift on the lake, creating hazards to navigation or depositing junk on your shoreline. Occasionally, the District sponsors debris removal events where property owners may apply for a permit to tow the debris to a designated location for proper disposal.
All residents and visitors to the watershed can participate in the Association’s and District’s mission by joining the email distribution list and visiting our Facebook page. Both the District’s and the Association’s monthly meetings are open to the public and offer avenues for deeper involvement.
Read related content and posts via the District Matters content directory to learn more about the Improvement District.
