Letter: Flood control project destroys animal habitat

Thursday, May 24, 2001 | 9:38 a.m.

A very small wildlife habitat land pocket is being destroyed to allow the necessary flood control basin project's construction.

This area, bounded by Stephanie Street, Emerald, Russell Road and Boulder Highway, had been home to an abundance of desert critters -- ducks, rabbits, fox, chipmunks, toads, road runners, snakes, lizards, as well as a broad variety of bird species.

No more. Any escape route chosen to save themselves brought them face to face with more perilous "civilization," particularly after the water flowing in Duck Creek was dammed at Stephanie Street, forcing them to adapt elsewhere or die. The lack of foresight in dooming most of them to death, by systematically destroying their habitat, should have been considered and addressed.

Performing an "animal sweep" prior to start of work accomplished little, if anything, to help these animals' survival. How could it? They have no safe place left to go.

Why didn't the county's plans include at least some restoration of desperately needed wildlife habitat to allow any surviving critters to return to this little haven of a land pocket? Arrogant humans who find animals expendable, as in this case, and offer no efforts to protect their survival, shouldn't be in decision-making positions.

The importance of every life should be respected; the integrity required to do just that, however, is obviously lacking in officials who approved the plans used for this flood control project.

How very sad for the animals being wiped out before our very eyes.

CAROLE LA ROCCA