Ireton Takes Credit for (Lack of) Rain

No one in the history of local politics can grandstand like Salisbury mayor Jim Ireton.  At a Friday press conference Ireton claimed credit for a “cleaner” Wicomico River.  There’s just one problem – the cause for a marginally cleaner river was last year’s drought.

The report, prepared by Judith Stribling of Wicomico Creekwatchers, cites last year’s lack of rain for improved numbers:

City of Salisbury-led efforts to reduce polluted runoff may have contributed to the reduction, but the biggest cause was almost certainly last year’s drought, said Judith Stribling, a Salisbury University researcher and supervisor of the Creekwatchers program.

Ireton still tried to spin the report, which usually isn’t issued until June, and take credit for a slightly cleaner River:

Dr. Stribling said it right,” Mayor Jim Ireton chimed in. “It’s not just a lack of rain, but it’s also some of the things we’re doing.

That’s NOT what Stribling said.  We should also question whether or not the report’s being issued in the spring also impacted the numbers.  If the readings were not taken at approximately the same time of year, with water temperatures at the same general levels, any conclusions of the report could be invalid.
The report also provided numbers for fecal coliform levels for the first time.  Stribling speculated that coliform levels downstream were the the result of septic tanks.  However, she cited no evidence to back up her speculation versus the possibility that coliform levels downstream were due to a previous spill from the city’s wastewater treatment plant.