This past spring, I visited Bonneville Dam for the first time and was captivated by the surrounding beauty. A long, winding river; trees of evergreen; a bright blistering sun shining down on tall grass and wildflowers; birds of prey and song twirling in the clear sky above; fishermen and their families casting their lines and praying for a little luck — it’s a special place.
How can a place so special and sweet be cared for by so many people, but be devastated by a group of one? I recently learned that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contaminated Bradford Island for years, all while Indigenous and local fishermen used the area to catch fish. They dumped electrical components, hazardous waste and light bulbs into the land and river. Contaminants here include PCBs, PAHs, lead, arsenic, mercury and phthalates. Studies show Bradford Island’s resident fish have some of the highest PCB levels in the country.
Doesn’t this area deserve reclamation? Don’t the animals that rely on the river and the land deserve to be protected?
Don’t the people who live around this area deserve the right to safe fish and clean water?
