Spokane7
62°Quick links: 2012 graduating seniors • Summer camp guide • Jobs: The Road Ahead • Prep sports • News quiz
If you see an armada of kayaks led by Julie Dalsaso this coming Saturday near the Blackwell Island marina here’s why: Along with the Kootenai Environmental Alliance, she wants citizens to look at the area where the Hagadone’s are planning to release 121,000 cubic yards of sediments so they can build a new port for luxury yachts with no regard to public health. This is the uppermost reach of the Spokane River, a popular spot for paddlers. But what lies beneath are heavy metals from a century of mining in Silver Valley. “The Lake Management Plan does not call for dredging of the lake bottom because it’s thought that leaving the contaminated soils in place is a safer management solution,” attorney Rick Eichstaedt said here at the Center For Justice. “So this proposal sets a negative precedent. We don’t have a plan for dealing with dredging like this in the lake”/Paul, Down To Earth. More here.
Question: Are you concerned about this proposal?
D.F. Oliveria is a columnist and blogger for The Spokesman-Review. Huckleberries Online was judged the best 2008 Idaho newspaper blog by the Idaho Press Club. And the best 2007 news blog in the Pacific Northwest by the Society for Professional Journalist. Print Huckleberries is a past winner of the Herb Caen Memorial Column contest by the National Association of Newspaper Columnists. The Readership Institute of Northwestern University cited this blog as a good example of online community journalism.
999 W. Riverside, Spokane, WA 99201
P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210
Main switchboard: (509) 459-5000 • (800) 338-8801
Newsroom: (509) 459-5400 • (800) 789-0029
Customer service: (800) 338-8801
© Copyright 2012, The Spokesman-Review
Terms of use • Privacy policy • Copyright policy
Find DFO on Facebook
DFO on Twitter
Don_Sausser on May 14 at 10:03 a.m.
No, appropriate State agencies have permitted it with restrictions.
Bent on May 14 at 10:18 a.m.
I’m not concerned either. I remember when EPA did its remedial investigation and feasibility study and that part of the sediment testing showed mainly higher levels of Iron and Zinc, neither is a human health threat and it was questionable as to the aquatic health threat it posed.
Sisyphus on May 14 at 10:41 a.m.
“No, appropriate State agencies have permitted it with restrictions.”—yikes! DEQ just ended its water monitoring program for lack of funds. They couldn’t come up with $250,000 to continue it, which I think computes to about less than cost for 9 days in the 118 days the legislature was in session. And its the same agency that gets almost weekly threats from the EPA that if they don’t do their job the EPA will have to. That inspires little confidence in me.
wheels on May 14 at 10:43 a.m.
I’m not concerned about the project with the exception of the request for an add’tl 100 boat slips(about 20 for for boats over 50’)and 120 plus mooring spaces for personal watercraft.We are rapidly approaching the need for regulation as to the # of boats on the lake at one time.100 more jet skis is’nt exactly what is necessary.I’m very supportive of the new construction but will strongly oppose the expansion.
hhuseland on May 14 at 1:18 p.m.
If the dredging were to take place in the main river channel it might be a problem. Any disturbance in the muck at the bottom of what is really a slough, with very little water moving down stream would be minimal. In other words, the muck will swirl around and in a few hours, be right back on the bottom where it has been. No problem at all.