Anin my name is Michael Olson, I am known as Thunder. I am Anishinabeg. I would like to share a little of my experience of the cold water spring area.

As a kid I grew up in the area of 54th and the river. I spent most of my time hanging out around the river, this was my playground. I came across the
spring as a child and found this place very interesting.

The Bureau of Mines used this area for their testing. They kept this area fenced off and had a nice little recreation area for their employees near the spring. They built a holding pond to catch the water and stocked the pond with trout. As kids we used to sneak over the fence and swim in the pond, and would be chased out by security.

The Bureau of Mines used to dump barrels of toxic waste over the wall east of the spring. There were many barrels of toxic waste floating where the spring flows into a pond. I remember how the water was polluted, and was many different colors. In the late 70's with the enviromental clean up going on, these barrels were removed and through time this area has cleaned itself up nicely.

A lot of people are unaware that the spring flows east and turns into a beautiful creek. If you follow this creek you will see where this next pond is. Then you come across the fence and the Fort Snelling bike trail. The creek flows under the bike trail continuing east about a block. Here the creek turns into a water fall. We
called this Hidden Falls. This falls ends and empties into the polluted Mississippi river.

I have heard many estimates of how much water the spring actually generates and have seen many, from different organizations measuring the flow, to include the DNR. What ever this amount is I know it's a large amount of fresh water and this fresh water flows directly into the polluted Mississippi river. The destruction of this flow of fresh water into the polluted river would be a disaster.

Mndot claims they can build a road and not effect the flow of this spring. Mndot has no idea what further damage will occur if the spring is destroyed. Even if the spring is not destroyed what about the pollution from the construction of the roadway, the eventual traffic and runoff. These things will surely have a damageing effect on the spring. I am sure they have never looked past the springs origin. Except where the river bluff area has already been staked out for drainage. Right into the river.

Any organization concerned or dedicated to preserving or reversing the effects of the damage already done to the Mississippi river should be concerned with the destruction of this spring or even the slightest possibility of it. We need this spring for many different reasons. In 1998 the Mendota Dakota people were reintroduced to this area and the spring. Through their investigations and study of this area they found this spring and surronding area to be of great significance to their past and present. I along with many others have taken part in ceramonies and gatherings at this spring. This is a sacred site to myself and many others. Through the white mans history along with much oral teachings of the Indian people this has always been a gathering place for the medicine waters that flow here. I know its not to late to save this spring for all it's worth. Stop MNdot from ever destroying or even getting near this spring. They have a history of destroying things they say they will not.

This area should be returned to the Mendota Dakota people for safe keeping forever.

Your friend and keeper of the water THUNDER