Protect parks

It's that time of year, spring is here and it's time to once again plan for summer adventure in Glacier National Park.

This year, however, something is different. A couple of weeks ago, I read about the Western Airborne Contaminants Assessment Project (WACAP). This study sought to determine if industrial and agricultural chemicals were present in various western parks. The results were disturbing.

Most of us think of our national parks as untouchable, islands of true wilderness that man cannot touch. This study revealed that even pristine landscapes like Glacier Park are impacted by our activities.

Perhaps the most disturbing results were contaminant levels found in fish. Mercury, mainly the result of coal-burning power plants, was found at levels unfit for birds. Historic use of pesticides, like DDT and dieldrin, were found at levels unfit for human consumption. Banned for decades, these chemicals take a long time to break down, serving as a precautionary tale for current chemicals we use and don't know the long-term effects of.

It's time we take another look at the activities causing this contamination. We need to urge our representatives to regulate the power plants, pesticides and industries threatening our greatest economic and environmental asset.

Darin Hackenberg,

Whitefish