We take the Animas River for granted. As if the Aug. 5 mine spill into the Animas River was not enough, the city decides to double down and further degrade the water quality of the Animas by dumping snow laden with dirt, oil, gas and who knows what other road debris along the river in Cundiff Park (Herald, March 12). If this was a one-time event driven by an excessive snow-magedon, maybe we could let it go as a public safety issue. Those of us who have been around Durango for a few years know that this annual snow dump practice is like an abuser, the pattern goes on year after year as the city continues to enable it.
The funny thing about this city Parks and Recreation-sanctified dumping ground is that it is in full view of everyone at Rivergate Lofts and anyone who uses the park or the river. It is unfortunately administratively out of sight to the federal and local agencies that are responsible to protect our rivers and regulate pollution in the water.
The city has options for snow dumping but uses Cundiff Park out of convenience and lack of incentive to change. The evidence of the perpetrator, the snow dumped next to the river, eventually melts and gets washed downstream – to the fine folks in south La Plata County, Aztec, Farmington and others who live along the lower Animas.
After the August mine spill and the public and political outcry for clean water, I would have hoped that the city would step up and recognize the value and celebrate a protected Animas River in order to attract tourists and, most importantly, for the health and well-being of children and families. Apparently not. The annual desecration of the Animas continues, and I suspect it will as long as the city continues to let Cundiff Park be the seasonal Durango sacrifice zone.
Dave Wegner
Tucson, Arizona, and Durango
