[Vision2020] Brush Creek Clean Up

[Kai Eiselein, editor]

The following is an editorial I wrote for this week's issue of the Eagle. I 
think it warrants posting on V2020 to get the word out. There is an article, 
with a photo,  on our website www.lataheagle.com


Last week I received a call about problems with dumping at Brush Creek 
between Deary and Helmer. I took a drive out there Thursday to see things 
for myself and it was as bad as I was told.

As I parked in front of the closed gate, I could see tracks in the ditch 
where four-wheelers had ripped up the ground to get past the barrier, 
illegally of course. And things just got worse from there.

A hundred feet or so up the road, just yards north of State Highway 8, 
garbage littered the area. Wood, old Christmas trees, tires, beer cans (some 
still full) animal skeletons all lay scattered about.

The more I walked around, the angrier I became. Angry at the lazy idiots who 
think it's just fine to toss whatever they want, wherever they want.

To the morons that dumped their deer carcasses here; you aren't fit to be 
called hunters, much less sportsmen. Oh sure you can shoot something, but 
being a real hunter involves going through with the whole thing, including 
the proper disposal of the unusable remains.

You gave every responsible hunter a slap in the face by illegally dumping 
your carcasses. The anti-hunters would have a field day if they saw the mess 
you left behind; they would make it look like all hunters were as slovenly 
as you.

Of course no "secret' dumpsite would be complete without plenty of beer cans 
laying around and Brush Creek is no different, but one genius went a step 
further by decorating the branches of a small tree by jamming empty cans 
onto them. I'm sure his mother would be proud.

Of all the garbage lying around, the thing that angered me the most was the 
used oil filters I found laying in a waterway. I highly doubt the filters 
were empty when they were dumped; in fact it looked as though someone had 
changed their oil right there. Now that used oil, with all of the 
contaminants in it, is flowing downstream, right past a well for Deary.

To the "mechanic:" I don't know if the oil would or could leach into the 
well, but if it did, would you want to drink it? Would you want your kids to 
drink it? Used crankcase oil has lead, arsenic and cancer causing agents in 
it. Why would anyone take a chance at putting his friends and neighbors at 
risk? Isn't it worth the time and effort to take your oil to a recycling 
center rather than dumping it where it might cause harm?

Brush Creek flows into the Potlatch River, which is a salmon-bearing stream. 
To compound matters, kids often swim in the river during the summer. right 
in there with that used motor oil. The fish have to live with everything 
carried by the water. Fish with the flavor of 10W-40 motor oil, sounds good 
doesn't it?

The inconsiderate cockroaches that did all this deserve our scorn. They didn't 
soil their backyard, they soiled OUR backyard and the Idaho Department of 
Lands had to step in, like a stern parent, and say "Enough is enough." So we 
all pay the price for the actions of a few jerks.

That was the stick, here is the carrot:

After talking with Margo Welch, the LatahEagle will sponsor a "Clean Up 
Brush Creek Day" Saturday, May 19.  We would like volunteers to come out and 
help clean up the area. If we can get it cleaned up, we may be able to get 
the gate opened again.

It will take a group effort, not only for the clean up, but also to help 
keep it clean, which means watching for, and reporting, illegal activity. 
This is our one chance to reopen access to an area used by many law-abiding 
folks.

As an added incentive, volunteers will be entered into a drawing for a 
chance to win one of three $50 gift certificates to Tri-State, courtesy of 
the LatahEagle. If other businesses would like to join in to sweeten the 
"drawing" pot, let us know. -- KE



Kai Eiselein, editor
Latah Eagle