Barriers prevent pollutants in creek

A long time ago and then some, snow that was collected from the downtown core was hauled to the Cedar Street Bridge and dumped into Sand Creek. About the only pollutants were horse manure, cigarette butts, and maybe a few other things left on the street on Saturday night.

Way before I started working for the Sandpoint Independent Highway district in 1993, the snow dump had changed from Cedar Street Bridge over to Sand Creek at it's present location. I found this out after calling a few older workers than me.

As far as any pollutants making their way into Sand Creek. Those concrete barriers that are set on the edge of the snow dump are the limit lines imposed by Idaho Department of Environmental Quality. Nothing can or has been dumped over those barricades as far as I know. This way, any pollutants have a chance of filtering out of the snow melt before it reaches Sand Creek drainage.

Of course this is only my opinion and anyone who so desires can request all of the information from DEQ under the Freedom of Information Act.

So please before pointing fingers at the hired help and the city of Sandpoint, try and dig a little deeper.

Also, every time someone throws a cigarette or dumps oil or pours out a beer in the street, that goes into our storm sewer system, which in turn goes into our lake and river.

LEAO WILLIAMS

Sandpoint