Transportation

Geography

Historical Background

Identified Hazards

Issues

Maps

Benewah County has four incorporated communities, Parkline (pop. 65), Plummer (990), St. Maries (2,652), and Tensed (126). The total population for the county in 2000 was 9,171. That is an increase of 15.5% since 1990.

Transportation

Geography

Land Area: 787 square miles.

Historical Background

Established January 23, 1915, with its county seat at St. Maries, by an act of the state legislature from the southern part of Kootenai County. Named for a Coeur d'Alene Indian chief. Some settlement began after the completion of the Mullan Road in 1860, but most settlers came to the area after the discovery of gold near St. Maries in 1880.

County Seat: St. Maries

Flood - 3/20/1997

Event Summary:  Rain showers led to flooding in North Idaho counties.

County Summary

The Spokesman-Review 21 Mar 97

Flood - New Year's Day Storm - January 1-5, 1997

Event Summary:    $65,000,000.00

New Year's day floods in the Weiser, Payette and Salmon River drainages of southwestern Idaho caused record flooding and numerous mudslides.  Warm temperatures combined with a rainfall 4-6 times the normal amount; the resulting snowmelt triggered devastating floods, mudslides and avalanches, extensively damaging communities and infrastructure throughout Idaho.  The community of South Banks was condemned because of extensive slide damage.  Over 400 miles of roads and several railroad lines were blocked or destroyed, stranding over 10,000 holiday travelers in western  Idaho. Residents of McCall, Cascade, Banks, Lowman and Garden Valley were isolated.  Rivers were "running like chocolate," carrying huge trees, mud and boulders; the Snake River at Hells Canyon Dam crested at 101,728 cfs January 1, nearly 30,000 cfs over its previous record level on 2/23/82.  The crash of a plane carrying 5 people from  Boise to McCall, killing all, was a result of the weather.  Governor Batt declared 13 counties a disaster: Gem,  Adams,  Washington, Idaho, Clearwater, Valley, Payette, Elmore, Latah, Boundary, Bonner, Shoshone and Boise.  A Federal disaster was declared on January 4, 1997

County Summary: $17,520.00

The Idaho Statesman  3/20/97

Severe Weather - 2/1996

Event Summary:    $100,000,000.00  The worst flooding in 30 years forces thousands to flee.  "one week deep freeze, the next deep water".  The deluge was triggered from fast-melting snow and days of heavy rains.  $5 million worth of damage occurred to highways from Bonners Ferry to Grangeville.

County Summary: Several roads were closed due to flooding from the St. Joe River.  Some fields were closed as well.  Highway 3 was closed in the St Maries and Santa areas due to water on the road.  400 people were evacuated when the St. Maries and St. Joe rivers reached record levels.  Nearly 200 buildings were damaged.  $18,000,000.00

The Spokesman-Review 9,10,13,16 Feb 96

Algae -  Fall 1981

Event Summary:    An explosion of blue-green algae in Black Lake occurred after unusually warm days.  While it often is present in small amounts, this year it was in much larger quantities, later in the year than normal, and did not occur in other lakes in the region

County Summary: 9 cattle and 2 dogs died from blue-green algae in Black Lake.  Hunting, fishing, and swimming was advised against in the lake.

Lewiston Morning Tribune  11 Feb 82

Volcanic - 5/19/1980

Event Summary:    $13,700,000.00 - Mount St. Helens erupted from Washington spewing volcanic ash over several states.  Dust covered cities and contaminated drinking water.  The fallout prompted Governor Evans to declare a state of emergency. The counties in the panhandle received from one-inch to 3-inches of an ash blanket.  Costs for increased unemployment, destruction of vehicles and other equipment, damage to crops, livestock and timber, and lost tax revenues was about $13.7 million.  This does not include loss to residents, local businesses and government.

County Summary

Flood - 1/15/1974

Event Summary:    $116,000,000.00 - Flood waters isolated much of the Coeur d'Alene mining district.  The waters burst dams, blocked major roadways and forced evacuation of at least 1,000 persons.  About $65 million in damages. Shoshone and Benewah hardest hit. $9.5 million in damage to road systems.  $51.4 million in damage to private property. Governor Andrus declared the counties disaster areas.  More than 30 bridges were destroyed in 3 counties.

County Summary:  St. Joe River rampages through St. Maries.  Idaho 3 at St. Maries was buried under 2 1/2 feet of mud.   Idaho National Guard was dispatched to St. Maries.  At least 50 homes were destroyed from the St. Joe river.

Idaho Statesman 18 Jan 74;  Lewiston Morning Tribune 18,  21 Jan 74

Flood - 5/23-6/5/1948

Event Summary: The 1948 flood was caused by abnormal snowmelt augmented by rainstorms the latter part of May and in June.  The floods caused contamination of the water system, which left residents without drinking water. Over $3,700,000 damage to roads and highways. $30 Million damage to crops.

County Summary: Flood Emergency Declared

Lewiston Morning Tribune

Wildland Fire - The Big Blowup - 8/21-22, 1910

Event Summary:    $20,875,000.00

In a brief 48-hour span, fires carried by hurricane-force winds burned more than 3 million acres, killed 85 persons, devastated the eastern part of Wallace and destroyed between 7 and 8 billion board-feet of timber.  The winds, which gave the Big Blowup its horror, came up from the southwest in the Nez Perce National Forest near Elk City.

County Summary: 

The Idaho Statesman, Stephen Pyne's The Year of the Fires, The Big Blowup

Identified Hazards ( Most likely to occur & greatest impact)

Other Issues