Environmental History of Contamination in the Silver Valley
Faculty Mentor
E.D. Dascher
Presentation Type
Poster
Start Date
4-14-2026 9:00 AM
End Date
4-14-2026 11:00 AM
Location
PUB NCR
Primary Discipline of Presentation
Urban and Regional Planning
Abstract
Idaho's Silver Valley, found along the South Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River, is an old mining area. The waste from the old mines has contaminated the valley’s waterways and soils with lead, zinc, and cadmium. Residents of Silver Valley have higher levels of lead in their blood compared to national averages, and the EPA designated Silver Valley a superfund site in 1983. This project investigates the historical context and current state of the Silver Valley superfund site. Silver Valley needs stronger regulations on mining practices, proper disposal of mine tailings, and better remediation practices for acid mine drainage. This can be accomplished via more sustainable mining practices, detailed waste disposal plans, and acid mine drainage treatments. Additionally, we recommend that the residents of Silver Valley have access to continued testing of blood lead levels, and that a robust monitoring program for soil and water contamination with a public awareness component be instituted.
Recommended Citation
Bowlen, Brent; Houck, Laura; and Scrimsher, Jillian, "Environmental History of Contamination in the Silver Valley" (2026). 2026 Symposium. 49.
https://dc.ewu.edu/srcw_2026/ps_2026/p1_2026/49
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Environmental History of Contamination in the Silver Valley
PUB NCR
Idaho's Silver Valley, found along the South Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River, is an old mining area. The waste from the old mines has contaminated the valley’s waterways and soils with lead, zinc, and cadmium. Residents of Silver Valley have higher levels of lead in their blood compared to national averages, and the EPA designated Silver Valley a superfund site in 1983. This project investigates the historical context and current state of the Silver Valley superfund site. Silver Valley needs stronger regulations on mining practices, proper disposal of mine tailings, and better remediation practices for acid mine drainage. This can be accomplished via more sustainable mining practices, detailed waste disposal plans, and acid mine drainage treatments. Additionally, we recommend that the residents of Silver Valley have access to continued testing of blood lead levels, and that a robust monitoring program for soil and water contamination with a public awareness component be instituted.
