Sespe Creek

Your report on the signing of Sespe Creek legislation (June 20) misses a vital point.

While Rep. Robert Lagomarsino and Sen. John Seymour congratulate themselves on an important act of conservation, it is conveniently forgotten that the legislation, which they both crafted, specifically sets aside two future reservoir sites on the pristine Sespe--which in itself is unprecedented in the history of the Federal Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.

Most Ventura County residents wanted the Sespe to be preserved from the dams, and the county supervisors and three city councils agreed--even in a time of drought. The reasons? The Sespe’s status as the jewel in our backcountry, the extraordinary costs of dam proposals, and the significant fact that most of the Sespe’s average flow is captured downstream by diversions, without the dams.

It is ironic how often we must read between the lines to see that legislation to protect our threatened natural resources still leaves the door wide open for future development.

ALASDAIR COYNE, Conservation Director, Keep the Sespe Wild, Ojai