TRAIL: Herbicides inappropriate

Have you ever enjoyed biking or hiking the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, “The award winning 72-mile paved, non-motorized, mostly alpine and basically flat rail trail…,” according to the website of Friends of the Trail? It is indeed a beautiful ride for the family, taking you past lakes, the river and wetlands.

Only, have you also noticed the 3-5-foot-wide kill zone on either side of the trail, a product of spraying a heavy cocktail of Hardball and other herbicides 1-2 times per season? Is it just me, or is that the most inappropriate venue for using industrial chemicals?

Well, ask the turtles who lay eggs in the gravel at the side of the trail, or the kids who accompany their parents on bike rides and just wanted a morning free of environmental assaults on their health. I have offered the people who manage the trail a grant to offset any additional cost if they’d consider traditional mowing as an alternative. Nothing. Nada.

I bet some of you would chip in, too. If spraying of the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes seems wrong to you, too, would you let the Friends of the Coeur d’Alenes know? They have a website where they might reply, or you can get ahold of them through Parks and Recreation in Cataldo. Enjoy the ride!

DONALD CAMERON

Harrison