CATALDO — Nearly 4,000 pounds of old rubber tires were pulled from the Coeur d’Alene River during a recent cleanup organized by the Friends of the River Coalition (FORC). 

Since 2001, FORC founder Dawn Wiksten and a dedicated group of volunteers have taken time each year to scour various sections of the riverbed, removing more than 17,000 pounds of tires to date. 

The discarded tires pose a serious threat to fish habitats and the broader ecosystem as they deteriorate. They also present hazards to recreational users, including anglers, boaters, and floaters. 

Wiksten said the sheer number of tires recovered is puzzling. But through research and local accounts, she’s beginning to understand how so many ended up in the river. 

“There was a time when rolling a tire into the river was seen as simply wholesome fun kids have now and then, but this cannot possibly account for the number of tires,” Wiksten said. “The old Enaville dump at the confluence of the North and South Fork of the river was an unregulated dumpsite for the county before the transfer station was created. But nothing was removed. So, in high waters during floods of high velocity, some items left were loads of tires and other large items that washed downstream.” 

This year’s cleanup focused on a 100-yard-square area near the Cataldo Boat Launch, about six miles downstream from the former Enaville dump. While Wiksten doesn’t doubt the power of floodwaters, she found it hard to believe they deposited so many tires in one location. 

She turned to longtime locals for insight, and their answers surprised her. 

“In the past, the logging operations used tires to protect bridge pilings and trap the logs that floated in the area,” she said. “Apparently, those tires were never removed after they were no longer of use. So here they lie. Our goal is to remove them all when we get back to the same location.” 

FORC, a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit, has been active in the North Fork region of the Coeur d’Alene River since its founding. In addition to river cleanups, the group has installed trash bag dispensers at launch sites and campgrounds, and supported several community initiatives, including a senior scholarship program, Christmas gift drives, Silver Valley Meals on Wheels, and donations to Shoshone County’s Dive Team equipment fund. 

“We accomplish what we can, when we can, but 2025 is in the books as the largest haul of tires so far,” Wiksten said. “We are proud of the work we do, but nothing would get done without our incredible volunteers, old and new. And we have many years ahead of continuing to clean the river. It's always an adventure.” 

Looking ahead, Wiksten plans to expand cleanup and improvement efforts at additional launch sites, with a focus on accessibility. 

“Not everyone has the mobility or agility to haul a chair to the banks or hike in a way to get next to the riverside,” she said. “Friends of the River Coalition hopes to make those things possible.” 

For more information, check out www.friendsoftheriver.com, or follow Friends of the River Coalition on Facebook.