LAKE: A bleak outlook

Having read the unreferenced opinions of Ed Javorka’s less than optimistic view of Lake Coeur d’Alene’s future in his March 11 My Turn, I came to the conclusion that I needed to see if there was information on the internet that could pull me back off “the ledge” — my .357 being unnecessarily messy.

Our future as outlined by Mr. Javorka includes: 1. The loss of EPA funding will lead to the eventual destruction of Lake Coeur d’Alene. 2. Past resources used for cleanup of the lake will be wasted. 3. The Idaho Department of Environment Quality will be powerless. 4. The LAKE MANAGEMENT PLAN will become a worthless piece of paper. 5. The lake will be filled with fish too dangerous to eat (he failed to mention ducks too). 6. A severe drop in property values will occur. 7. The Resort is doomed. 8. If the EPA goes away, Coeur d’Alene water quality can be counted on to be down-trending. All of this is just over the horizon!

Make no mistake, I know how devastating lead poisoning is to the central nervous system, having diagnosed two cases more than 45 years of medical practice. Everything possible should be done to eliminate it.

And, I also recognize hyperbole when I see it.

A very superficial one-hour internet review of topics such as: “lead in water supplies,” “how effective has government been in reducing lead pollution?” (recall the axiom that pollution follows population), and “what U.S. lakes are severely lead polluted?” — offered much informative and somewhat hopeful information. There were some articles specific to Coeur d’Alene.

The U.S. government is faced with an impossible problem — not enough money to finance all the needs of an increasingly demanding, highly technical and more dense population.

Thus, my prediction. More and more local involvement will be needed in order to maintain the things important to us locally, such as what is considered by some to be the most beautiful lake in the world.

DICK SHELDON

Coeur d’Alene