Dam’s Danger Must Be Recognized

Wed., June 5, 1996

By D.F. Oliveria daveo@spokesman.com (509) 319-0354

After pulling William Pfeiffer’s body from the Spokane River and trying in vain to revive him seven years ago, a Post Falls man made an observation that stands true today: “Once you get caught in that current, you’re history.”

Pfeiffer was one of two adults and two children sucked through the Washington Water Power Co. dam’s floodgates at Post Falls on April 24, 1989. The group had launched a 14-foot aluminum boat from a Post Falls park a few hundred yards upstream and was caught in the current when the engine stalled.

A boy miraculously survived the plunge over the dam.

Strangely, there’s little to prevent a similar tragedy from happening again today.

During the past two weekends, children have frolicked on or near floating barriers strung by WWP across the channel only about 50 yards from the overflowing dam. While their parents sunbathed or visited at nearby Q’emiln City Park, unaware of danger, the youngsters were one slip away from the current - and death.

For years, WWP area manager Paul Anderson has lobbied to ban access to the Spokane River downstream from the Spokane River bridge during high water. Elected officials from Post Falls and Kootenai County have given the idea lip service, but for some reason, probably a liability issue, they have failed to act.

Fortunately, no one else has been killed while the local politicians have fiddled. It’s past time to take Anderson’s common-sense suggestion seriously. It’s time to pass ordinances.

The marine division of the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department certainly takes the problem seriously. During the Memorial Day weekend, the tight-fisted department assigned extra patrols to the treacherous stretch of the Spokane River, authorized overtime and crossed its fingers.

Both Post Falls and Kootenai County must enact bans since each has jurisdiction along the dangerous stretch of river. The Post Falls City Council was scheduled to discuss the problem Tuesday night. Once - and if - it approves a ban, the matter will be taken up by the county waterways committee.

At this point, the danger almost has passed. WWP will start shutting the dam’s floodgates Thursday and complete the process by about June 15.

If luck holds until then, marine deputies won’t spend time below the dam searching the Spokane River for bodies.

, DataTimes The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = D.F. Oliveria/For the editorial board

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