On learning the difference between a river and a landfill

From time to time here at OEC some interesting stuff from around Oregon's environmental and conservation circles and our 40+ years of archives comes across our desks. Last year we got a picture from Willamette Riverkeeper of a massive >12 ft. sturgeon caught under the Sellwood Bridge here in Portland. Some of the educational, wacky or historical stuff we find never sees the light of public display. But we thought you'd like to see this little gem.

Check out this great correspondence from 1932 between the Forest Service and Oregon State Police, sending letters back and forth about what to do about the garbage piling up at the Eagle Creek campground on the Columbia. Hat tip to Brian at the Tualatin Riverkeepers who sent this over to us.

The following exchange is one of the more "humorous":

"In the past, the garbage was hauled off to the Bridge of the Gods and dumped off into the swiftest current which is near the middle of the stream. Sargeant Grimm of the State Police, stationed at The Dalles, informs me that we will not be allowed to continue this practice..."

A.I. Wang, Forest Ranger

[and the reply]

"What is a little garbage in a stream like the Columbia as compared with the huge amount sewage from the many cities upstream, the factory refuse from the woolen mills and I dare say a pulp mill or two. The garbage will really serve as fish food where the sewage is fish poison." 

Francis Williamson Jr., Forest Ranger

We've come a long way! Click on the thumbnail below to read the letters.