Despite such warnings, mining companies continued to dump mine waste into the waters of the Coeur d'Alene until 1968. Abandoned tailings piles continue to release more toxic metals into the system each year. Today, over 165 billion pounds of contaminated mining and smelter waste have entered the Coeur d'Alene system. Toxic sediments cover the bottom of Lake Coeur d'Alene. A glass of water taken from the river may look clear, but in times of flooding that water contains heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, zinc and arsenic greatly exceeding safe drinking water standards.
Small children are at greatest risk.
Unfortunately, birds and other wildlife are blind to these signs. Nearby wetlands are called killing fields by biologists because mine wastes cover thousands of acres and the lead has killed thousands of migrating tundra swans. Logging transformed the Idaho Panhandle national forests the St. Joe, the Kaniksu, and the Coeur d'Alene national forests into the regions timber basket. As the Forest Service signed off on one destructive timber sale after another, the Panhandles forest ecosystem has died a death by a thousand cuts. People zipping along the Interstate or the river road that winds along the north fork wont see the clearcuts behind the deceptive beauty strips.