Rafters defile St. Joe

I read with interest The Spokesman-Review story “Anglers back Trout Release” (July 22).

On a recent Friday trip up the St. Joe to Spruce Tree Campground, I counted 486 people rafting. On my return, Saturday, I counted 826. I spoke with the new owner of the St. Joe Lodge and he said he sees as many as 1,000-1,500 rafters per day.

Where do these people pool/pee/and puke? Several women were eager to show their assets while rafting so I have to assume that alcohol was involved. Guessing that a person produced one gallon of waste while eating and drinking on their float, I imagine that 500 to 1,000 gallons of raw sewage is deposited in the St. Joe and Coeur’Alene drainages per day. This is not to mention garbage. Those people who own property or have the resource to enjoy these pristine places obviously do not care about the impact of thousands of gallons of raw sewage released per day.

Fish and Wildlife is responsible for protecting our environment. Busting an elk poacher is more glamorous than busting rafters, but still necessary.

Until there is an environmental impact that will be too late to save the trout, people will continue to dump their raw sewage into these waters. Rich Landers, help us.

Bruce A. Kaiser

Spokane