Editorial: River danger signs worth effort

When it comes to the Kootenai River, there’s nothing wrong with a little education.

Folks don’t seem to know for sure how many people have died in the river’s dangerous currents but it could be a dozen or more. An especially treacherous segment of the river can be found below the falls near the popular Swinging Bridge. A college student from Massachusetts got caught in the middle of the river last month and sadly lost his life. It took several days until his body was discovered.

Terry Crooks, who works for David Thompson Search and Rescue in Libby, approached Lincoln County commissioners last week with a proposal to put up some sort of sign warning visitors of the river’s dangers. The idea seemed to be embraced by the county and it appears that a sign will go up at some point in the future. The Forest Service also indicated it very well may put up a sign, although they will go through a process to study pros and cons. Liability is the biggest issue.

Putting up signage near the river is a good idea. It won’t do anything to negatively impact the number of visitors. Some will probably choose to take the leap despite any warnings just to see if they can do it. But if this type of sign saves even one life, it’s worth the effort.

An idea could be to not just put up a sign in bold, red letters but to come up with a more elaborate, informational sign that features the river’s history and explains those dangers in a way that gets through to people. Of course, many won’t stop to read those longer, informational signs because they’ll be in a hurry to get to the bridge. So, it’s probably a good idea to include the type with the bold, red letters as well.

No matter what course is taken, letting folks know about the river is a good idea. You can never assume that people are smart enough to know it’s dangerous. Including downriver info, such as a description of the “washing machine” around the bend, could have even more of an impact on visitors. The thought of even the most experienced swimmers unable to get to shore in the strong current and reaching a 100-foot hole might keep someone from jumping.

— The Western News