Trust Overview
In late 2024, PathForward Consulting (PFC) was selected as the Successor Trustee to administer the Successor Coeur d'Alene Custodial and Work Trust. In this role, PFC oversees environmental remediation activities and manages the Trust’s financial, operational, and administrative responsibilities in accordance with directives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The site spans approximately 1,500 square miles within the Coeur d’Alene River Basin of northern Idaho and eastern Washington, one of the largest historical mining districts in the world. It encompasses the Coeur d'Alene River corridor, adjacent floodplains, downstream waterbodies, tributaries, and fill areas. It also includes the 21-square-mile Bunker Hill "Box," where historical mining, ore processing, and smelting activities have left a legacy of contamination. The site was listed on the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983. Over a century of mining activity resulted in significant releases of lead, arsenic, and other heavy metals into the environment, which have since been linked to adverse effects on human health, aquatic life, and wildlife. Due to the scope and complexity of the contamination, the site has required extensive, multi-decade remediation efforts aimed at stabilizing and restoring affected areas. The Coeur d'Alene Basin is one of the most complex and high-profile Superfund sites in the United States. Remediation efforts have since focused on stabilizing affected areas, mitigating environmental risks, and supporting the health and well-being of nearby communities.
As Successor Trustee, PFC ensures that remediation efforts comply with EPA regulations, working in close coordination with federal and state agencies, as well as local stakeholders. PFC’s oversight responsibilities include strategic planning, financial stewardship, and contractor management. This involves administering contracts, overseeing project schedules, and tracking key environmental metrics.
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Technology Innovation: Drone Broadcast Seeding
At Gray’s Meadow (CDA Basin), the team, led by Jim Finley from the Kellogg office, completed RA and wetland restoration on October 31, 2025.
To reach saturated and irregularly shaped areas, the CDA team paired high-capacity drone broadcast seeding with traditional drill seeding.
In total, ~400 acres were broadcast-seeded by drone and 235 acres were drill-seeded, with application rates held at ~24 lbs/acre (targeting 20–50 seeds/ft²). Drone seeding outperformed drills in wet conditions and complex geometry and delivered an estimated ~$25/acre cost savings compared to drill-only unit rates. Early-October monitoring plots are already showing germination.
Why This Matters
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Reaches difficult terrain: Drone seeding effectively covered saturated, complex-shaped areas where drill rigs and conventional equipment struggle.
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Improved performance: Drone seeding outperformed drills in wet conditions and irregular geometry, increasing coverage and consistency.
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Cost savings at scale: The approach delivered an estimated ~$25/acre savings versus drill-only unit rates, magnified across hundreds of acres.
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Project News
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Our Gem: Evaluating risk in Lake Coeur d’Alene recreational areas, December 1, 2024
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Understanding the Coeur d'Alene Work Trust, October 15, 2024
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Historic mining practices continue to impact health of North Idaho’s Coeur d’Alene Lake, June 15, 2023
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Coeur d'Alene Basin cleanup to expand to lower basin Spokane Public Radio, March 24, 2022