Idaho Department of Environmental Quality

Happy Thanksgiving! We are grateful to work all through the year to protect human health and the quality of Idaho’s air, land, and water. We are so lucky to work with Idahoans to keep Idaho beautiful and thriving. To showcase our gratitude, here is one last batch of photos of the incredible place we call home. Photo descriptions and their DEQ photographers: Cascade winter, Ginny Simms Bull elk fighting, Todd A. Higens Mustang Peak reflected in Wild Horse Creek, Daniel P. Smith Sawtooth Mountains, Jonathan Perry Beaverhead Range, Kerri Bynum North Fork of the Coeur d'Alene River, Anna Moody Mountain stream, Cierra Stokes Cinnabar Mine Hotel, Ginny Simms City Beach, Todd A. Higens

Burn the right wood the right way with the right appliance. #WoodstoveWednesday is here to help you burn hotter fires, enjoy more heat, and save money. To do so you must learn before you burn; ???Burn wood that has been dried and stored for at least 6 months ???Build a hot fire with plenty of kindling ???Burn in a properly cleaned and maintained woodstove More information at https://lnkd.in/g2aivyc9

So many reasons to be grateful for Idaho this Thanksgiving season?? DEQ is all about protecting where Idahoans live and play, so we are sharing our photos of how great Idaho is and why we love it! #GratitudeSeason #ProtectOurIdahome Photo descriptions and their DEQ photographers: - Aurora Borealis at Payette Lake, Kerri Bynum - Sunflower, Gail Yost - Grandjean Campground, Hayley Brown - Hells Canyon, Sara Anzalone - Lake sunset in Boise, Jennifer Wiley - Shoshone Falls, Joe Otero - Craters of the Moon, Triffie Ransom - Stream in the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest, Vanessa Johnson - Mountains in Custer County, Kimberly Diep

Can you already taste those mashed Idaho potatoes??? As you prep your Thanksgiving meal, make sure you are preparing for the number of people you are feeding. That way, you buy only what you need, eat what you buy, and avoid throwing away food. Discover more tips on how to prevent food waste: https://lnkd.in/gYWcUrEP Photo: American Falls potato cellar taken by DEQ staffer Ginny Simms

So many beautiful spaces in Idaho and so many reasons to protect where we live and play! We are grateful for Idaho?? #GratitudeSeason #ProtectOurIdahome Photo descriptions and their DEQ photographers: - Flying over the Selway Wilderness, Cierra Stokes - Cauldron Linn, Mary Anne Nelson - Ice climbers in the Snake River Canyon, Daniel P. Smith - Palisades Reservoir, Brianna Lords - Bald Eagle, Todd A. Higens - Silver Mountain, Anna Moody - Anderson Ranch Reservoir, Melissa Scheff - Triumph, Idaho, Keith Thomas - Malad Gorge, Jonathan Perry

This week, DEQ teamed up with the Idaho Rural Water Association and EPA to train water system operators on how to address the presence of harmful algal blooms (HABs) in drinking source water. The cyanobacteria that make up HABs are a natural part of Idaho’s water bodies, but when temperatures rise, their populations can bloom and toxins can be released into the water. Trainees learned about health effects of these cyanotoxins, resources for monitoring cyanotoxins, and developing HAB response plans. Learn more about HABs and active recreational water health advisories at https://lnkd.in/gx6UxP4H

Grateful for Idaho?? DEQ is all about protecting where Idahoans live and play, so leading up to Thanksgiving, we are sharing our photos of how great Idaho is and why we love it! #GratitudeSeason #ProtectOurIdahome Photo descriptions and their DEQ photographers: Bull Moose - Todd A. Higens Blackfoot River - Mary Anne Nelson Memorial Bridge in Lewiston - Lisa Wilke New Meadows - Jonathan Perry Wheat field in American Falls - Ginny Simms Cow pasture in Valley County - Daniel Woodall Perrine Bridge in Twin Falls - Elaine Ganino Lupine - Kimberly Diep McGown Peak in the Sawtooth Mountains - Ginny Simms

Winter has arrived in #Idaho, and it's time to prepare for the cold weather. Our annual #WoodstoveWednesday is just around the corner, and we're excited to share some tips to help keep your family warm and save you money. Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn about the best burning practices that will keep your home cozy and comfortable. Get started today at https://lnkd.in/gsU4QGr

Need more reasons to be excited for snow? Snow feeds our source water for the coming year! The gradual melting and runoff of snowpack during the spring and summer provide streamflow and replenish groundwater for the warmer, drier months. These water resources are vital for households, agriculture, and commercial, industrial, and municipal needs. Can you name the Idaho water body in the second clip? Bonus points if you can name the beachside park where it was filmed!

DEQ has six regional offices around the state to best serve all Idahoans! Communication and cross training between the regional offices help us meet the unique needs of each area of the state. Drinking water compliance and engineering staff from our Boise and Coeur d'Alene Regional Offices recently convened in North Idaho for two days of mentoring, training, and field trips, sharing common considerations for surface water treatment plants statewide.