On tules choking the Lower Owens River; Gov. Rick Perry’s possible presidential run; and a possible ban on plastic carryout bags

A no-flowin’ Owens

Re “Choking the Lower Owens,” July 25

I beg to differ with the negative assessment of the Owens River restoration project.

I agree with lead scientist Mark Hill, who pointed out the success of the creation of 3,000 acres of water and wetlands. With 108 identified species of birds visiting the area and the multitude of fish being supported by the life generated by the water, I think the project has been extremely successful.

I will survey my science students when they return to class, and I am sure they will concur. Congratulations, Los Angeles.

Mary Pettitt

Highland, Calif

It was good to see the article about the tules choking the Lower Owens River.

I attended the dedication ceremonies when the water was released to the Lower Owens in 2006. Early the next year, some friends and I paddled on the river. We did encounter some places choked by tules, but we assumed that the channel would get clearer now that the water was flowing again.

Over the next several years, we paddled the section below where we had ended that first trip. Each time we returned we found it harder to get through. Finally, we decided not to do the lower river anymore; it was getting too choked with tules.

The Owens River is a beautiful recreational resource, and something needs to be done to keep the lower portion open to fishermen and boaters.

Frank Colver

Newport Beach

What is described as the choking of a river system is actually the natural ebb and flow of a watershed ecosystem. It took years of neglect and theft of water to dry up this wonderful place.

To speak of the new life there in such terms as to suggest failure is premature at best. With decades of abuse, can’t we wait half a dozen years to allow mother nature to reclaim what was once hers?

While Inyo County Supervisor Richard Cervantes cringes at a reed-choked bank, a rainbow trout is grinning gill to gill about the same clear water that carries a whole new supply of insects to its new home, without human interference.

Jake Brower

Orange

So what is the problem in creating 3,000 acres of wetland that is being repopulated by birds, fish and other wildlife? There are ample places in the Eastern Sierra for fishing and boating. Keep the area wild and see what develops over the next 100 years.

If Owens Valley residents want a managed river, have them come and pay a visit to the Los Angeles River sometime, or relocate to Anaheim and visit Disneyland.

Snowdy Dodson

Van Nuys

Rick Perry’s divine guidance

Re “God and Gov. Perry,” Opinion, July 25

Whenever someone really wants something but decides to pray for divine guidance, God always seems to whisper “Go for it” in his ear. My prediction: Gov. Rick Perry will run for president.

John R. Sellars

Redondo Beach

To put it in terms that both Texans and the religious right may understand, Perry is not only all hat and no cattle, he’s also all shepherd’s crook and no flock.

Martin Parker

Thousand Oaks

Lawrence Krauss writes: “Even the faithful should recognize that truth is not the dominion of a single religion.”

But isn’t that the very problem?

Whatever the religion, true believers hold their particular faith above reason, evidence be damned (along with all nonbelieving infidels).

History abundantly shows us that all religions, and even their sects, kill others over ideas that have no resolvable conclusion.

Science, on the other hand, is a rigorous and demanding evidence-based system that holds itself up to constant challenges, accepting nothing on faith. Science helped lead humankind out of

the horrific Dark Ages. However, sterile science lacks humanity.

The genius of our Founding Fathers was that they wrote into the Constitution tolerance and respect for people and their ideas.

We need science, and we need humanity. Without these we will revisit the Dark Ages.

Phil Beauchamp

Chino Hills

Krauss needs to know that contrary to his thinking, truth is the dominion of a single religion:

Christianity.

The only way to get to heaven is through the Lord Jesus Christ. As Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but through Me.”

Dennis Kinney

Santa Ana

Dealing with plastic bags

Re “Paper or plastic? Pay up,” editorial, July 25

Pioneering cities in California representing 10% of the population have already moved forward with bans. While encouraged by momentum on the local level, Heal the Bay wholeheartedly endorses a statewide solution to California’s proliferation of single-use bags.

Moving from a patchwork of differing local policies to a uniform state standard will bring us closer to the ultimate goal: ridding the state of harmful plastic pollution.

Hoping to bring consistency to the checkout counter, Assemblywoman Julia Brownley (D-Santa Monica) has said that she plans to pursue a statewide bag bill.

Industry has made it nearly impossible to pursue a fee-based policy. Although legislators’ hands may be tied on imposing reasonable fees here, they can enact measures that encourage both retailers and shoppers to adopt reusable bags, as millions of consumers do worldwide.

Kirsten James

Santa Monica

The writer is water quality director for Heal the Bay.

I like a carryout plastic bag with handles. It is light, strong, waterproof, sanitary, practically indestructible and recyclable. And reusable.

The problem is that we don’t use them enough times. A product with those qualities can be used as a carryout again and again.

How simple to take several bags that my wife and I keep in a kitchen drawer from previous trips to the market, stuff them in pocket or purse and hand them to the cashier to bag our purchases. It’s a better alternative to cumbersome reusable tote bags.

It’s not the plastic bags, it’s us.

Ricardo Nicol

San Clemente

When stores eliminate their rows and rows of plastic, paper and aluminum bags and containers all “for sale,” then I’ll bring my own bags. Somehow, I don’t think manufacturers will go for this solution.

Charlene Scherer

Rancho Mirage

In poor taste

Re “Winehouse autopsy done,” July 26

I understand honoring Amy Winehouse with flowers, cards and candles, but what sick person would include vodka bottles in front of the house of a woman suffering from addiction who lost her life so young probably due to drugs and alcohol?

Back to the ‘60s

Re “In praise of civil disobedience,” Opinion, July 26

Peter Yarrow’s essay in support of Tim DeChristopher’s principled act was a rare breath of fresh air from the ‘60s of our youth, when Peter, Paul and Mary stirred the hope that people could rise up and speak truth to power.

Then the reason the article appeared was made clear by a note at the bottom of the page: “Jonah Goldberg has the day off.”

Please give Jonah more time off, and give more space to those who evoke what Abraham Lincoln called “the better angels of our nature.”

John Phillips

Camarillo