The Killarney Lake Recreation Site, in the Lower Coeur d’Alene River Basin, is a popular place for families to camp overnight or to spend the day picnicking, fishing, launching boats, and playing along the shore. This stretch of the basin, however, is heavily contaminated with lead and other metals—a legacy of mining and smelting operations conducted with scant attention to the consequences for human and environmental health. Although the parking lot at Killarney Lake has been paved to cap the contaminated material underneath and clean topsoil has been spread to help establish a grassy swale between the parking lot and the lake, no further cleanup has been undertaken at the site. The surrounding soils and the lake sediments continue to harbor high levels of lead and other metals. These contaminants continue to pose a risk to the health of humans and wildlife that use the site. So health and environmental agencies have posted a large sign urging people to take steps to protect themselves. The sign notes that small children and pregnant women are at particular risk from exposure. The sign directs people to wash their hands, faces, toys, and pacifiers if these have been in contact with the soil or dust; to avoid picnicking on the ground; to remove soil from clothing, camping equipment, and pets before leaving the area; and to ensure that their children: “PLAY CLEAN! Children should play in grassy areas and avoid loose soil, dust, and muddy areas. No mud pies.”
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