July 2004

Editor:

The old saying that an elephant is a mouse built to government (or bureaucratic) specifications comes to mind every time I look at the Animas La Plata Project diversion channel near Santa Rita Park.

In my wildest moments of opposition to the project, I never imagined that such a perversion of common sense and such an aesthetic blot on the beautiful Animas was planned. I thought the diversion would be along the lines of the city's diversion near 29th Street: sensible, discreet, and cost effective.

But, of course, I was thinking in terms of spending the taxpayers' money in responsible ways, not in terms of the half-billion dollar cost overruns that are likely to be on the books if the Animas La Plata Project is completed.

This Animas La Plata monstrosity is tiny compared with the environmental savagery of a pristine area that will occur if the energy companies are allowed to drill in the HD Mountains, near Bayfield. It is too late to save the Animas River but there is still time to save the HD Mountains. Call the San Juan Citizens Alliance at 970.259.3583 for more detailed information or go to www.savehdmountains.org or contact the Forest Service in Durango at 247.4874. Write letters of protest and show up at one of the public input meetings that are being held throughout this area.

But first, for a motivational "boost," go down to the Animas River near Santa Rita Park and see the A-LP abomination; then drive into the HDs as they are and imagine what damage awaits their present, fragile beauty.

Sincerely,

Hal Mansfield, Durango