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Do you have a question for PCEI?
Below is a list of the most common questions we receive at PCEI. We
have supplied answers to these questions In an effort to serve our
community and membership.
If you have a questions for us submit it to: webmaster@pcei.org |
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How can I stop the city from spraying herbicides on my property?
The City of Moscow has an annual contract for the spraying of various
herbicides on City streets, alleys, right-of-ways, etc. The purpose of
this spraying program is threefold: 1) to prevent weeds from growing in
street cracks and causing further damage to roadways; 2) to eliminate
noxious weeds (which has essentially been accomplished on City
right-of- ways); and 3) to control other weeds. This program runs from
late spring through early autumn and monthly notices run in this
newspaper during that time.
If you are a chemically sensitive person or wish not to have spraying
done adjacent to or on your property, you must notify the City of
Moscow Street Superintendent, Mike McGahan by phone at 883-7096. You
must call each year to be added to the list; it does not carry over
from year to year. You may post "No Spray" signs on your property, but
please make sure they do not obstruct the clear view of motorists.
The City's Commission on Health and Environment asks that you hand pull
or otherwise remove weeds growing along your property, especially those
in curb and street cracks, if you request no spraying along your
property.
If you have questions about this program, its purpose, or about the
herbicides used you may contact the Moscow Street Department at the
above phone number. More information, including Material Safety Data
Sheets for the chemicals used and herbicide-free weed removal methods,
is posted on the City’s Web
site
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What evidence of pesticides in groundwater is there for our region?
Here is a fact sheet from the USGS entitled "Pesticides and
Volatile Organic Compounds in Ground and Surface Water of the Palouse
Subunit, Washington and Idaho".
The paper discusses pesticides and other volatile organic compunds
found in area groundwater. |
Who tests well water?
ANATEK LABS INC.
Anatek Labs Inc. specializes in the testing of drinking water, waste
water and environment samples for homeowners and industry. They are
certified analytical laboratories with locations in Moscow
(208-883-2839) and Spokane (509-838-3999) or 888-534-3999.
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What is the liquid icemelt product used locally, and is it harmful?
In recent years, both the City of Moscow and the Idaho Transportation
Department have adopted a new method of de-icing our streets and
highways. Instead of relying on traditional measures of applying sand
and basalt to control ice and snow, they have started using a new
anti-icing application called Ice-Stop. read the full story... |
How can I learn more about Ice Stop?
Please view the following pdf files for information about these
products.
You may also visit the Fateful Harvest website to
learn more about that book. |
What animals live in Paradise Creek?
Macroinvertabrates
- Ephemeroptera
- Trichoptera
- Megaloptera
- Coleoptera
- Hemiptera
- Odonata
- Pelecypoda
- Crustacea
- Diptera
- Gastropoda
- Oligochaeta
- Nematoda
- Hirudinea
- Collembola
- Bryozoa
- Coelenterata
- Amphipoda
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How can I learn more about bats and bat houses in our region?
You can visit Bats Northwest
to learn about our bat species, how bats benefit you and how you can
provide habitat for them. |
Holodiscus discolor
Oceanspray
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What native plants live along Paradise Creek?
Here is a list of native plants that PCEI uses inour sream restoration
project. There are also many non-native plants along t he stream
including Pacific Willow and Golden Willow.
Latin Name, Common Name: Tree(T) or Shrub(S), Soil Moisture:
Dry(D) and/or Moist M)
- Acer glabrum, Rocky Mountain Maple: T, D
- Alnus incana, Thinleaf Alder: T, M
- Amelanchier alnifolia, Serviceberry: S, D, M
- Betula occidentalis, Water Birch: T, M
- Betula glandulosa, Bog (Swamp) Birch: T, M
- Cornus sericea, Red-Osier Dogwood: S, M
- Crataegus douglasii, Douglas Hawthorn: T, M
- Holodiscus discolor, Oceanspray: S, D, M
- Philadelphus lewisii, Mockorange (Syringa): S, D
- Physocarpus malvaceus, Mallow Ninebark: S, D, M
- Populus tremuloides, Quaking Aspen: T, M
- Populus trichocarpa, Black Cottonwood: T, M
- Prunus virginiana, Common Chokecherry: T, M
- Ribes aureum, Golden Current: S, D, M
- Rosa gymnocarpa, Baldhip Rose: S, D
- Rosa woodsii, Woods (Pearhip) Rose: S, D
- Salix bebbiana, Bebb Willow: T, M
- Salix drummondii, Drummond Willow: T, M
- Salix exigua, Coyote Willow: S, M
- Salix lasiandra, caudata Whiplash (Pacific) Willow: T, M
- Salix mackenzieana, Mackenzie Willow: T, M
- Salix scouleriana, Scouler Willow: T, M
- Sambucus cerulea, Blue Elderberry: S, D, M
- Spirea betulifolia, Shiny-leaf Spirea: S, D
- Spirea douglasii, Douglas Spirea: S, D
- Symphoricarpos albus, Common Snowberry: S, D
- Symphoricarpos mollis, Creeping Snowberry: S, D
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What plastic can I recycle on the Palouse?
In addition to being able to recycle #1 and #2, you can now recycle
plastics with the numbers 3,4,5 and 7 at Moscow recycling center. In
the past, these plastic containers could not be accepted there because
there was no market for the recycling center to sell them. However,
this market has recently come available to Moscow’s Recycling Center.
Please continue to be thoughtful about the containers you purchase.
Recycling capabilities are not an excuse to go plastic crazy and buy
everything from this material amde from oil. Keep in mind that
reducing is the first step in the three R’s (Reduce/Recuse/Recycle).
So after you have reused the container to death, you can drop it by the
recycling center. Rinsed plastic containers (lids off) that have a
recycling symbol on it, are accepted. Plastic bags and Styrofoam are
still not accepted.
These newly accepted plastic containers are only accepted at the
24-hour drop off area at the Moscow Recycling Center and need to be
sorted by number code located on the container. Unfortunately, to
date, they do not have the capacity to pick up any other plastics in
the curbside collection beside numbers 1 and 2.
To accommodate the new bins in the drop off area, the cardboard
container near the Glass bins has been removed and the paper milk and
juice cartons (aseptic packaging) should be placed in the Mixed Waste
Paper bin. With all cases, there are a few packaging containers that
are still not accepted like motor oil containers and #6 plastic because
of high food contamination.
Thanks to Moscow Recycling center for helping to keep more plastics out
of our landfills. For more recycling information contact:
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How can I save water in my yard?
Water is the most valuable resource we have here on the Palouse. Over
time and as our community grows, our aquifer system is feeling the
pinch. It has become increasingly important to achieve maximum
efficiency with this community resource.
These tips will help you get the most out of watering while benefitting
your landscaping:
1. Water before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m. and avoid watering on windy
days. As much as 30% of water can be lost to evaporation by
watering during midday.
2. Water in several short sessions rather than one long one. For
example, three ten- minute sessions spaced 30-60 minutes apart will
allow your lawn to better absorb moisture than one straight 30-minute
session.
3. Help root structures become deeper and more effective by watering
plants deeply but less frequently. Many plants and lawns only need
water once per week.
4. Only water when needed. Overwatering promotes shallow root growth
making your lawn less hardy. More plants die from overwatering than
underwatering.
5. Install moisture sensors in each irrigation zone (shady, sunny,
etc.) to better determine irrigation needs.
6. Adjust the timer on automatic sprinklers according to seasonal water
demands and weather conditions.
7. When watering with a hose and sprinkler, install a timer between the
faucet and hose to automatically shut water off at a certain time or set
a kitchen timer as a reminder.
8. Install a rain shut-off device on automatic sprinklers to eliminate
unneeded applications.
9. Use a sprinkler that throws large drops of water close to the
ground. Avoid sprinklers that spray a fine mist, which results in
excessive evaporation. Traveling sprinklers are among the most
efficient.
10. Maintain a lawn height of 2 to 3 inches to help protect the roots
from heat stress and reduce the loss of moisture to evaporation.
11. Avoid planting turf in areas that are difficult to irrigate
properly such as steep inclines and isolated strips along sidewalks and
driveways.
12. Aerate clay soils at least once per year to help the soil retain
moisture.
13. Cluster plants with similar water requirements together.
14. Consider planting native, low-water-use, or xeric plants whereever
possible. Many of these plants require less maintenance, little or no
water, and provide habitat for native fauna, especially birds.
15. When chosing plants, keep in mind that smaller ones require less
water to become established.
When creating a landscape plan, take into consideration how the yard
will be used and how it can provide the greatest benefit with the least
amount of maintenance. |
How were the scablands of eastern Washington formed?
To read more about the glacial floods of the ancient lake Missoula,
visit the web site of the Ice Age Floods
Institute.
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