I have been reading these stories of why the river finally went over its banks and flooded some of the houses along its shoreline and others.

Our leaders say too much snow, ice jams and run-off. Well, no one has said too much garbage.

As one avid fishermen of the river, sitting in my boat (catching a walleye or two) I have seen people who live along the river throw their lawn clippings into the river. Also, flower plants (pot and all), garden waste and truck loads of fall leaves. They just tarp them into a pile, and in the river they go. What do they throw in when no one is around?

I've been fishing the river from the refinery area down to Fort Lincoln. Several of these residents who live along this mighty river do it. Something needs to be done or maybe, the river will tell you when it's had enough. Maybe again next spring, like it did this spring. Just the way it looks from one fishermen's point of view.