Aug. 16, 2002

Removing the weir would be a community relations plus

I fully support John Browne’s effort to create closer ties with the community of Northern New Mexico (Newsbulletin, Aug 14); I believe it will enhance our ability to carry out the primary nuclear weapons mission. I have a concrete suggestion for an action that would advance the agenda: get rid of the low-head weir in Los Alamos Canyon. It is a tremendous eyesore, a scar on the incredible landscape here that is openly visible not only to commuting Lab employees but to visitors to the Jemez mountains and, most significantly, to the permanent residents of the community.

The low-head weir was built in haste after the Cerro Grande Fire. Even during its construction, its utility was questioned by experts. San Ildefonso Pueblo objected to the construction techniques being used. I will not debate here the wisdom of the decisions in 2000, but now the structure will very soon be unquestionably obsolete because of the recovering vegetation in the mountains that has dramatically reduced the threat of floods. Despite this, the OLASO office of NNSA has, incomprehensibly, just decided that leaving the weir in place would not be such a bad thing. In doing so, they disregarded -- some would say ignored -- public input.

Clearly, it is the Laboratory that must now step forward and guide future decision-making on this and other Cerro Grande-related structures. Restoring Los Alamos and Pajarito Canyons to their former glory would not be expensive, would be a symbol of the Laboratory’s commitment to environmental restoration, and would improve our relations with the pueblos that have ancient ties to this hallowed ground.

--Bernard Foy