River needs urgent care

It’s not just PCBs, as The Spokesman reported in the article, “Declining Spokane River toxin levels still don’t meet standards” on May 18. The Spokane River has been clubbed over the head with all kinds of nastiness for 100 years – phosphorus, PCBs, PBDEs, heavy metals and a series of dams.

Throw in excessive water withdrawal from the Spokane Valley/Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer (a major source for recharging the river and our sole source for drinking water) in the mix and you have a river in cardiac arrest.

Our efforts to save the river, though valiant, have been anemic. Polluters are let off the hook way more than they are held accountable, and when they are caught, the penalties don’t even come close to restoring the damage caused. It’s time to protect our river and aquifer in a way that holds polluters fully responsible; it’s time to support a Community Bill of Rights for the November ballot. Find out more by going to envisionspokane.org.

Sagi Bresgal

Spokane