DROUGHT IS NOT FUNNY

Does the Weekly think that our vulnerability to a drought is a laughing matter? [“The Heroic Tale of Measure W,” Oct. 20-26]. While portraying people as superheroes in their cartoon, the Weekly is missing the point entirely.

Measure W was yet another attempt to waste time and money in an effort to block any reasonable solution to the Peninsula’s water supply and storage issues. Measure W posed a costly “research project” to the financial detriment of our environment, our economy, our very way of life for us and our children.

Let’s not laugh at the Weekly’s cartoons and spoofing of our critical need for reliable water storage and supply and the critical need to restore the Carmel River. The Water District is being irresponsible to propose this study, as the Herald and Pine Cone have—more responsibly—concluded.

We need to put our money into new water storage and supply systems to resolve our water issues and revitalize the Carmel River. We cannot possibly save money on financing a water supply company and the improvements required and also offset the huge cost of buying and financing a condemnation? For the public to even contemplate taking on the ownership and management of a water company is ludicrous, as evidenced by the expense and ineffectiveness of the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District. A new “public” water company board will be as political and ineffective as the Water Management District Board has been over the last 20 plus years. –Jeanne C. Byrne | Pacific Grove (The letter writer is the former Mayor)

SAVE THE STEELHEAD

The Carmel River Steelhead Association, a group I volunteer for, has worked for over 30 years to protect and restore wild steelhead trout, an endangered species. We also rescue baby steelhead stranded in drying pools each summer.

This year our volunteers set a new record by relocating over 23,000 to areas that flow with water all year.

We have waited and worked to get Cal Am to comply with the court’s order. They are now close to our goal by building a desal plant that can replace the 10,730 acre feet currently overdrawn.

For decades wildlife has suffered because our community uses and needs so much water. If W had passed, our precious wildlife would have suffered for more years while the courts and lawyers battle over who owns the water company. Whoever ends up owning the utility will still have the same problem, and it will cost us much more to fix it.

The water company is also preparing to retrofit or remove the decrepit and outdated San Clemente Dam. It has filled in completely with sediment and no longer stores any water. The State has also declared the dam an earthquake hazard to the public. We want the dam removed, not buttressed!

Now is the time to do all we can to find the resources and support it will take to complete the historic step of removing a dam.—Frank Emerson | Carmel Valley

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The Weekly welcomes letters about articles that appear in these pages, issues of concern to our readers, or anything interesting, weird, cool or funny. Send to letters@mcweekly.com or Letters to the Editor, Monterey County Weekly, 668 Williams Ave., Seaside, CA 93955.