It's All A Matter Of Perspective

Our Wicomico River is dying a slow death.

But we can turn it around, according to Salisbury Mayor Jim Ireton, whose recent mayoral campaign featured the health and appearance of the river as one of its central issues.

Largely politically ignored for the better part of a dozen years, the Wicomico has been the victim of million-gallon sewage spills, chemical runoff, illegal toxic discharge and a plethora of other environmental insults. Only with the forceful hand of the Maryland Department of the Environment has any slowing to these injuries been accomplished.

Some say it's a price we have to pay for our progress. Most don't agree.

Most want the river clean enough to swim in.

Most want the river to be clean enough to support the healthy aquatic plant and animal life that it did a few decades ago.

Most want the river to be the polished gem that we know it can be.

Is it too late? No. The river can be saved.

Will it be easy? No again. It's going to be a process that involves local, federal and state government, efforts of professionals who will map out the best course, and the commitment of the people to get the job done. It will take years, not months, to see nitrogen levels be reestablished to those that consistently and optimally support a living balance of native plants, fish and crustaceans.

Will it be cheap? Probably not. But taxpayers shouldn't look at any huge sums to be expended in any approach that isn't just good housekeeping and responsible stewardship of our waters and the areas surrounding them. While these may be seen as expenditure by some, others will recognize them as investments.

The process will be comparatively long. But take heart. The Wicomico will never look like this: