Coeur d’Alene Lake Management Plan - Lake*A*Syst Manual: IDEQ (208) 769-1422 and the CDA Tribe (208) 667-5772
Assessment Worksheet 1 - Construction Concerns
The assessment worksheet below will help you identify potential environmental risks related to how you manage
new construction on your property. For each question indicate your risk level in the right-hand column. Some
choices may not correspond exactly to your situation. Choose the response that best fits. When finished, turn to
the New Construction Action Worksheet on page 6-12, and record your medium and high-risk practices. The
goal is to lower your risks. Use the BMP recommendations provided in this section to help you decide how to
best reduce pollution.
LOW RISK MEDIUM RISK HIGH RISK
YOUR
RISK
Building setbacks
My house and garage
are over 75 feet from
the lake, and our lot
has a gentle slope with
native vegetation.
My house is 40
feet from the lake,
but there is a thick
vegetative buffer.
My house was de-
signed to be 25 feet
from the water so
we could be as close
as possible.
Low
Medium
High
Nutrient loading
My landscape is all
native and doesn’t re-
quire any maintenance.
My soil is tested
annually and ferti-
lizer is only ap-
plied once a year
when needed.
My landscape has a
steep slope made up
of plants that are
fertilized often.
Low
Medium
High
Riparian habitat
I have kept all the
plants that were grow-
ing along the shore to
keep the water and fish
cool and to prevent
erosion.
I have removed all
of the native vegeta-
tion along the shore-
line so I could in-
stall a lawn.
Low
Medium
High
Stormwater runoff
control
My stormwater is di-
verted into a vegetated
swale that is located
100 feet from surface
water. A vegetative
buffer runs along my
shoreline.
I have a vegetative
buffer on my
shoreline, but I
have a sloping
lawn above that is
fertilized regularly.
I have a steep paved
driveway that runs
straight down to
lake. Oil is visibly
running toward the
lake.
Low
Medium
High
Wastewater/septic
My septic tank is 100
feet upland from sur-
face water and is in-
spected annually. The
septic drainfield is 100-
300 feet from surface
water based on soil
type.
My septic tank is
old and 50 feet
from surface wa-
ter, but it is in-
spected annually
and is functioning
properly.
My house was built
on a steep slope
with a septic tank
installed about 25
feet from surface
water. It is an old
system that has not
been inspected in
years. The drain-
field is less than 100
feet from surface
water.
Low
Medium
High
Risk Assessment Worksheets
New Construction
6-10
Coeur d’Alene Lake Management Plan - Lake*A*Syst Manual: IDEQ (208) 769-1422 and the CDA Tribe (208) 667-5772
Assessment Worksheet 2 - Erosion and Sediment Control
When finished, turn to the New Construction Action Worksheet on page 6-12 and record your medium and high-
risk practices. The goal is to lower your risks.
LOW RISK MEDIUM RISK HIGH RISK
YOUR
RISK
Site plan
I had a site plan devel-
oped by a professional
trained in erosion pre-
vention.
I haven’t had a site
plan developed for
making clean water a
priority.
Low
Medium
High
Slope of site adja-
cent to lake or a
stream
0-2% slope 3-4% slope 5% and above Low
Medium
High
Timing of
construction
I schedule construction
work and erosion pre-
vention applications for
optimal conditions: dry,
low-runoff periods
when erosion is lowest.
Though construction
work is performed
during the wet sea-
son, I use erosion-
prevention BMPs to
help reduce runoff.
Construction work is
performed during the
wet season, and no
erosion-prevention
BMPs are used.
Low
Medium
High
Erosion control
I keep existing vegeta-
tion, except around the
building foundation and
access areas. I make
sure areas of bare soil
are seeded and topped
with a layer of mulch
or straw.
Soil on my lot is left
bare during a con-
struction project, but
natural features slow
and treat most run-
off.
My entire lot was
cleared for my new
home. Bare soil is
exposed.
Low
Medium
High
Sediment control
I make sure that erosion
controls are implement-
ed and are inspected
regularly. A silt fence
has been installed as
secondary protection
for sedimentation.
My construction site
is protected by natu-
ral vegetation, but no
man-made sediment
control devices are
being used.
My construction site
was cleared, and to
save money, no ero-
sion or sediment con-
trols have been in-
stalled.
Low
Medium
High
6-11
Coeur d’Alene Lake Management Plan - Lake*A*Syst Manual: IDEQ (208) 769-1422 and the CDA Tribe (208) 667-5772
Action Worksheet
New Construction
Write all high and medium risks
below.
What can you do to reduce the risks?
Set a target date
for action.
Sample: Runoff from construction
activities runs directly into a stream
or the lake.
Cover all bare soil with mulch immediately,
slow concentrated runoff with fiber rolls, and
install a silt fence above surface water.
Today
6-12