Idaho Department of Environmental Quality

Merry Christmas from DEQ! Have a safe, happy holiday! Our offices are closed today, but we'll be back tomorrow! #idaho #idahowinter #idahome #christmas #merrychristmas #happyholidays

DEQ is seeking representatives to fill vacancies on the Mid Snake Watershed Advisory Group (WAG). The Mid Snake WAG is a group of citizens from a diverse set of interests dedicated to successful restoration and protection of the health of the Snake River, Rock Creek, and their major tributaries. The Middle Snake River is geographically defined as the reach between Milner Dam and King Hill. The WAG is currently seeking representation from the following interest areas: • Irrigated agriculture • Livestock and grazing • Recreation The group meets quarterly, or as needed. Anyone interested in serving on the WAG should contact Tasha Owen at (208) 736-2190 or tasha.owen@deq.idaho.gov by 5 p.m. on March 31, 2025, MDT. More info: https://lnkd.in/gqhKFKrx

All we want for Christmas is to protect human health and the quality of Idaho's air, land, and water *Mariah Carey whistle singing* ❤️💚 Enjoy our DEQ-themed holiday cards! Images: - "Please don't dump it on Crumpit (Properly dispose of waste)" - nobody likes litter. Put trash where it belongs, and protect waterways by refraining from dumping fats or hazardous chemicals down drains! - "I'm dreaming of a green air quality Christmas" - the U.S. Air Quality Index (AQI) is EPA's tool for communicating about outdoor air quality and health. The AQI includes six color-coded categories, each corresponding to a range of index values. The higher the AQI value, the greater the level of air pollution and the greater the health concern. For example, an AQI value of 50 or below represents good air quality and is color-coded green. - "Merry Fishmas!" - DEQ collects data on fish communities to gain insights on stream health and the presence of invasive species. - "Chestnuts roasting on hot, smokeless fire built with dry, seasoned wood" - burners can reduce smoke impacts by building a hot fire with dry materials. - "He knows when you are sleeping, he knows when you're a lake" - Idaho’s surface waters provide great natural beauty and supply the water necessary for drinking, recreation, industry, agriculture, and aquatic life. DEQ’s Surface Water Program ensures Idaho’s streams, rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and wetlands meet standards set by the Clean Water Act.

DEQ out working in the snow! Plot twist - this was in July! #idahosnow #idaho #idahome #ProtectOurIdahome #idaholife #idahosnow

Drinking water and wastewater grant funds offered by DEQ are open for applications! Funds can be used to benefit communities in a variety of ways, including upgrading aging water systems, improving sewer collection systems, addressing stormwater and sewer infrastructure, and reducing lead in drinking water. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/gPYSsawP

Is your firewood dry enough to burn this winter? Dry wood burns hotter and creates more heat, saving you dollars! Using a hand-held moisture meter, you can determine how dry your wood is. A reading of 20% or below on a moisture meter means the wood is dry enough to burn. If you don’t have access to a moisture meter, prioritize using the oldest wood in your pile first! #WoodstoveWednesday

DEQ has added two new job opportunities! We are seeking a senior hazardous waste permit writer in Boise and a water quality engineer in Coeur d'Alene. Learn more and apply here: https://lnkd.in/gMJR8-dn

Three West Side High School students have been selected to represent Idaho in Utah State University's annual air quality poster contest. Congratulations to Carter Peterson, Lorraine Campbell, and Maddeline Casperson! These students now have the opportunity to compete for the top prize to be announced in February. If selected as finalists, their artwork will be used for air quality education outreach for the next year! Photo 1: Carter Peterson, "Your Choice" in watercolor Photo 2: Lorraine Campbell, "Break Free" Photo 3: Artwork by Maddeline Casperson

DEQ staff assessed 24 Idaho streams and rivers for the National Aquatic Resource Surveys this year! Our team collected water samples, macroinvertebrate samples, and data on habitat quality and fish populations to contribute to the Environmental Protection Agency's assessment of our nation's waterways. The data is used to calculate the percentage of waters that support healthy ecosystems and recreation, determine the most common water quality problems, and more. This is hard work in remote areas, and we are proud of our team's efforts!

DEQ is seeking a member to represent flood control interests on the Wood River Watershed Advisory Group (WAG). The Wood River WAG is a group of citizens from a diverse set of interests dedicated to successful restoration and protection of the health of the Big Wood River, Little Wood River, and Camas Creek watersheds. These watersheds cover Blaine, Camas, Gooding, and Lincoln counties, from which the WAG seeks to have representation. The group meets quarterly, and members are asked to serve at least two-year terms. Anyone interested in serving on the WAG as a representative of the above interest group should contact Tasha Owen at (208) 736-2190 or tasha.owen@deq.idaho.gov by 5 p.m. on February 14, 2025 MDT. More info: