Spring traditions run deep in Twin Falls and Jerome counties. When we say deep, we're alluding to trash thrown into and around our deepest geologic wonder.

It's worth repeating, yet again. The Snake River Canyon and its surroundings are not a trash disposal. Yet, year after year, the irresponsible masses load the pick-up and head to the north rim to ditch refuse. Removing waste, whether it's in old appliances, grass-clippings, household trash, or broken bottles, is an enormous and overwhelming task.

The north rim territory is the public-land domain located northeast of the Perrine Bridge. It stretches from Highway 93 to the east at Hansen Bridge. The terrain includes 7,200 acres that were previously under the control of the Bureau of Land Management. But under a recreational public purpose lease made a few years ago, Jerome County assumed day-to-day land administration for 6,600 acres of the territory. The BLM and state still combines control for the remaining acres.

This past weekend, volunteers gathered once again to haul out all imaginable forms of trash. Among those helping was Susan Bachtold, a Magic Valley resident and a regular on the north rim. But while the land's beauty is her inspiration, it's also a source of frustration. Or more appropriately, with those who litter it with trash.

Bachtold describes her confrontations with dumpers this way: "They just look at you like deer in the headlights. They don't understand why you're upset. To have people who have absolutely no conscience, they can look at this and it doesn't seem to affect them. They don't see anything wrong with this."

If a citizen like Bachtold can spot illegal dumping in open daylight, why can't local and federal agents? Southern Idaho has thousands of square miles of public land, but this is our front doorstep. If those agents can't restrict more dumping, a solid reporting procedure is needed. Citizens who see dumping should note license plate numbers, and report them to relevant offices.

Fines for these offenders should be stiff - high enough to encourage a violator to use the local transfer station. Disposal at those designated points rarely costs more than $10.

The potential North Rim Park area needs to move quickly on controlled targeting areas. These public lands have long been used by shooters seeking target practice. But there's obvious danger at play.

"The shooters are probably the most irresponsible people out there across that canyon that I've ever seen," said Jeff Trammell, president of the Southern Idaho Off-Road Association. "We've had them shooting out across our heads during the cleanup."

It's only a matter of time before a severe injury occurs under those terms. This is a multiple-use area for all sorts of recreational land users. Wisdom should dictate that shooters be directed to areas a safe distance from others.

Local tourism and land-use groups have already made efforts to get the North Rim Park plan moving forward. But agencies involved need to act quickly to make the area safer and cleaner today.