I was very impressed to happen upon this epic snow removal operation on Second Street on Thursday at about 11 a.m.

You might be able to see in the photo that this clean-up convoy of sorts includes numerous heavy construction vehicles stretching from where this was taken at about Second Avenue East, all the way back to Fourth Avenue West.

First, the bobcats and these road graders push the snow out of the gutters, and off of the sidewalks wherever possible. But what I really wanted to get was a pic of the next step in the operation. A monster snow crusher attachment that looks like a snowblower, only it’s 15 feet tall and at least half as wide is placed on the front of the snow plow to feed the white brown stuff into a fleet of dump trucks. It’s like a dance that’s choreographed by people in carharts and hard hats, only without the music, and if the dancers were outfitted by Cat … ok, maybe it’s not a dance. But regardless, seeing this really got the kid in me all giddy.

I’m impressed with how they were able to clear the sidewalks of tons of snow in a couple of hours. I’m not sure how many city workers were involved, but I’m guessing about 20 or 30, there was even a police car on hand to slow down traffic. It’s a huge undertaking to move tons of snow. Or is that hundreds of tons of snow?

But one thing I wonder, is where does it go? Sure, it’s snow, but it’s dirty snow. Dirty, potentially polluted snow. A season or two filtering through some gravelly wetlands would probably clean it up a bit before it hits the Lake, but, then wouldn’t that pollute the wetlands? I’m asking.

I look to you, PDD brain trust for the answer to that question and any other insight into how to handle our heavy snow accumulation (and to make room for more that will come in our snowiest months of February, March and (in 2013, at least) April.