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The story: As part of their jobs, Stan Miller and Ken Lustig pioneered work on the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer.
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You couldn’t meet two more passionate people who care more for the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer than Stan Miller and Ken Lustig. Both men are retired now from their full-time jobs - Miller from Spokane County, and Lustig from the Panhandle Health District. They continue to be committed to the future health of the aquifer, the sole source of drinking water for 500,000 Inland Northwest residents. They have been called the two godfathers of the aquifer. Please see the full transcript of their interview with editorial writer Rebecca Nappi.

The video was difficult to illustrate. The aquifer is underground and not easily accessible. But Lustig and Miller did show me an incredible, magical spot where the aquifer seeps out of the side of Doomsday Hill and enters the Spokane River. I have lived in Spokane for most of my life and have never been to this enchanted spot.

I did some quick stand-ups with Lustig and Miller. We were on a tight timeline so I decided to come back after the weekend and shoot the B-roll of the spring. I should have known it would snow on the morning I returned. So if you are wondering why Ken is talking about the aquifer coming out of the hill and it looks like fall, then I cut to shots of a snow-covered bubbling brook, well, stuff happens. Just know it is the same spot.

Good video. As a Latah County Commissioner we are beginning to think about these same issues on the Palouse Basin. As a result, we have already created a new ordinance which requires land use development to address groundwater issues. Beginning to "embed" water management into land use development is the only way you can effectively do this in Idaho. As a result of our ground water management overlay zone, we have already been sued for $30 million dollars. We shall soon see how much protection a local government can assert over its water resources. Thanks again for the good video.

Great video, I really enjoy seeing this issue spot-lighted. As a Student at EWU, I am studying the very issues that Ken and Stan commented on. I just wish that the other students as well as all the members of our community would sit up and listen to these wise ole sages of the aquifer.