Palouse Clearwater Environmental Institute volunteers in cleaning up the mountain.
That meant excavating the 23 rusty shot-up vehicles, dragging out chains and other
hardware embedded in the ground, and collecting bags of household garbage. After
repairing the damaged road leading into Pond 9, 45 large dump truck loads of
unwanted rubbish were eventually hauled away.
Ironically, Bennett Lumber had posted the area years before only to have signs
disregarded by hunters and others assuming the land was publicly owned. The
partnership, however, brought Pond 9 to local attention and encouraged some
amount of education and public pride.
Today, the site remains fenced with new tree plantings thriving and Bennett Lumber
managing for a healthy forest. Eventually, timber harvesting will take place on a
limited basis. Now, neighbors and recreationists point to the site with renewed
enthusiasm that industry and conservation interests can work together.
