The city of Post Falls did its part for the area’s water quality last week by passing a $9.5 million bond that will remove treated wastewater from the Spokane River. Now, the Coeur d’Alene Indian Tribe is urging the state of Idaho and federal government to follow suit.

Earlier this week, tribe Chairman Ernie Stensgar offered to donate $5 million from the tribe to address water quality issues. The catch? The tribe wants the two other governments to match its offer to create a fund to promote lake health.

Stensgar wasn’t grandstanding.

By throwing down the gauntlet, Stensgar brought this important issue back to center stage – and proved the Coeur d’Alenes are committed to lake protection. The state, meanwhile, is trying to get the Environmental Protection Agency to remove Lake Coeur d’Alene from an expanded Coeur d’Alene Basin superfund site by pushing ahead to adopt an unfunded management plan. State and federal governments can show they’re serious about the water quality of Lake Coeur d’Alene by accepting Stensgar’s challenge.

Whether you’re Republican or Democrat, an environmentalist or pro-business, young or old, you have a stake in preserving the water quality of Lake Coeur d’Alene, the Spokane River, and the Spokane Valley/Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer.

Overwhelmingly, Post Falls residents followed their progressive leaders in protecting the river by taking the first step to provide an alternative method for effluent disposal. By approving the bond, they gave city officials the go-ahead to eventually buy up to 1,000 acres on the prairie to be irrigated with treated wastewater. Post Falls won’t be caught short if the EPA curbs the practice of dumping effluent into the river. Commendably, voters approved the purchase despite misinformation circulated by opponents that the city planned to spray untreated waste on the prairie, threatening the aquifer below.

The Coeur d’Alenes’ position focuses on another important aspect of water quality that affects the entire area.

At this point, the business leaders in Kootenai County who influence state policy toward the lake appear more content to downplay the superfund designation than to be sincere about the lake’s water quality. A balance needs to be struck. No local booster enjoys seeing beautiful Lake Coeur d’Alene stigmatized with a superfund designation. However, it’s common knowledge there are tons of heavy metals at the bottom of the lake. The metals need to be monitored for effects on water quality and human health – and hot spots cleaned up.

Post Falls elected to address the problem rather than put its head in the sand. The state of Idaho and federal government are faced with the same options.