Irvine Reserve

How heartening it is to read your report (May 8) on the opening of the Irvine Co. open space reserve. I would like to publicly thank Donald Bren and the Irvine Co. for giving these beautiful areas to the public. Thanks also to the Nature Conservancy for negotiating the deal and for its plans to restore the land which has been damaged by a century of ranching.

As soil bared by overgrazing is easy prey to wind and rain erosion, and as the U.S. loses about 1.7 billion tons of topsoil to erosion every year, this gift is a badly needed opportunity to conserve, even though the area is small in the total scheme of things. Besides, it sounds like a wonderful island of natural beauty just to be in.

ANN ALPER

Pacific Palisades