(letters)

Swimming With the Current
Thank you for your article on the Dungeness River ["Spawning Hope," September]. I worked for the Jamestown S'Klallam tribe from 1992 to 2001 and was a part of this exciting and rewarding project. As a member of Audubon since 1972, I was pleased to see you bring interest to this river and its friends.

Linda Newberry
Pagosa Springs, CO

Norton's Bona Fides
Let me express appreciation for your coverage of the National Wildlife Refuge System’s Centennial [June]. I hope many of your readers will take time to visit a refuge to see the great work folks are doing day in and day out to conserve these wonderful places for the next century.

I wish, however, that Ted Williams had interviewed Interior Secretary Gale Norton before writing his article ("The Second Century"). If he had, he would have discovered that Secretary Norton is a strong supporter of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Under her leadership, and with the support of President Bush, the administration has proposed an $80 million increase in the refuge system's operating budget over the past two years. If Congress approves the increase, the refuge budget will be more than double its 1997 level.

Craig Manson
Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks
U.S. Department of the Interior
Washington, DC

TED WILLIAMS RESPONDS:
Thanks to Mr. Manson for his genuine support of the refuge system and for his good interview, which provided me with all the information I would have gotten from Ms. Norton. As I noted in the article, the President has indeed submitted a good budget proposal. Regarding Secretary Norton's alleged commitment to the refuge system, I'll let the facts I reported speak for themselves.

Safe Passage?
It seems ironic that audubon is featuring an article about roads and their impact on wildlife ["Right of Way," June] as the House Appropriations subcommittee on transportation has put forward a bill that will get rid of the "transportation enhancement" funding that includes the construction of wildlife crossings. I hope Audubon will express opposition to this bill so lawmakers will reconsider their actions.

Eric Walters
Lake Jackson Ecopassage Alliance
Tallahassee, FL

Corrections
In "An Underwater Ark" (September), seagrass scientist Sandy Wyllie-Echeverria was incorrectly identified as a woman. In "Land of the Giants" (September), the name of the director of the Alaska Forest Association was incorrect. His name is Owen Graham.

Don't Forget to Write
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© 2003  NASI

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