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• 1'7 <br /> Foliage destroyed <br /> I'd like to comment on the destruction of <br /> the foliage along the Amazon channel. When <br /> the man on the TV news spoke of trying to <br /> "reduce" the vegetation in "an environmen- <br /> tally sound manner," I figured they would <br /> merely continue the selective removal of un- t <br /> derlying brush. What they actually did was <br /> bring in one of those monster mowers and <br /> grind down every living thing to within a <br /> couple of inches of the ground! <br /> That may be environmentally sound on <br /> the moon, but here it's disgraceful. Gone are <br /> the trees for the birds to nest in,'gone are • <br /> the bushes, vines, flowers and deer trails. <br /> Gone is the shade for the ducks and animals <br /> that had begun to make their homes along <br /> the ditch. I run, walk my dog and ride my <br /> bike to work every day and have always <br /> appreciated the lush beauty of this strip of <br /> life and now it is just plain ugly. Who can <br /> call this an improvement? <br /> As for the logic that it is necessary to <br /> "prevent flooding": I live in that neighbor- <br /> hood, and even after the worst rains I have <br /> never seen flooding. I grew up on a farm <br /> and we had two moving creeks, so I under- <br /> stand the need to "brush out" things once in <br /> a while, but this was ridiculous. Now the <br /> banks are exposed, and the risk of erosion is <br /> increased. The limbs and trunks that would <br /> slow and direct the water flow are gone— <br /> stand by for bank collapse. <br /> Tell you what: When this area has re- <br /> , paired itself in about 15 or 20 years, let's try <br /> something a little less destructive so we all <br /> don't have to look at the ugly aftermath, and <br /> maybe ask around down here for a little <br /> public input as to the end goal, eh? <br /> LOGAN DHONAU <br /> Eugene <br /> • A The Register-Guard welcomes letters, <br /> which can be sent to the paper at P.O. Box <br /> 10188, Eugene, Oregon 97440-2,188. Letters <br /> must be signed and should include the writer's <br /> address for verification purposes; a telephone <br /> number is also helpful. Maximum length is <br /> normally 250 words, but all letters are subject <br /> to condensation. Writers are limited to one <br /> letter per calendar month. <br />