Letters to the editor for March 31
Estuary test experiment
Gold stars to Olympian letter writer Larry Taylor, who recommended a “test run” of the estuary idea by opening the Capitol Lake dam gates and draining the lake for, say, a year. If we didn’t like what we saw (or smelled), close the gates again.
A downside would be the destruction of the rich freshwater ecosystem of the lake. Mallards, native fish and crayfish, all predators of New Zealand mudsnails, would leave or be killed. Populations of flying predators that eat mosquitoes — bats, swallows, dragonflies — would be reduced. Native imperiled species — Olympic Mudminnows, freshwater mussels — would be impacted.
I suggest a less drastic “estuary test drive” that would avoid these negative side effects. Leave the dam gates closed and instead cancel the lake weeds’ entrapment of Deschutes River nutrient nitrogen pollution by pouring 60 50-pound bags of fertilizer (10% nitrogen) into Budd Inlet in front of the dam site every day between now and Oct. 1. Watch the water opposite the Port dock next summer to see if dogfish start swimming around at the surface, gasping for oxygen, or dead fish start floating there. Or see if the Department of Ecology reports a new oxygen “dead zone” at the bottom there.
Data sources for this letter include the CH2M-Hill Report to General Administration (1978), and Hayes with other authors (2008, “CLAMP Report”). See my report “Capitol Lake: Healthiest Lake in Thurston County” at savecapitollake.org for full citations, 68 more sources, and additional germane info.
David H. Milne, Lacey
Responsible Christian Science
Protecting children and vulnerable adults is a goal that Christian Scientists share with all humane thinkers. For well over a century, most Christian Scientists, fairly viewed, have striven to be responsible citizens and parents.
We do have a deep conviction, based on experience, that diligent, conscientious, and steadfast Bible-based prayer can be an effective healing agency. And we value accommodations in law that afford individuals a choice in how to care for their families most effectively, including the practice of Christian healing.
While we do not believe the current Washington statute categorically “exempts” Christian Science parents from the responsibility to properly care for their children, we have supported the revisions proposed by House Bill 1048, a bill that sought to address the concern about denominational preference and bring greater clarity to the balance between choice and responsibility for all without naming Christian Science specifically. This approach seems reasonable.
Lance Matteson, Seattle, Christian Science Committee on Publication for the State of Washington
Can’t we rally around peace?
It doesn’t matter where you live. Women cry a million oceans all over this world.
How can we not meet war with war? But we must not.
It’s a Catch-22 when war calls itself safety and peace. No safety or peace lives in Ukraine, nor Syria, nor many parts of Africa and South America.
Peace is best found when the masses have enough food, clothing, shelter and wages to survive.
Funny that Congress will rally around war, and become silent, actively absent, when money for social services in the US are brought up. No votes there.
But war? Hoo ya! Really?
War kills so many, prevents crops from growing, stymies trade, causes inflation and scares humans all over the world out of their minds. War is insanity.
Why does war rally Congressional support when starving children, homeless families, a populace aging out of 100 days of Medicare, do not?
It’s mainly on the GOP now. Start working or get out of the way!
Liza Rognas, Olympia