Artificial Reef: a Pro and a Con

I believe that Rudolphe Streichenberger should be allowed to keep his artificial reef off Newport Beach (“Going Against the Current,” May 29). For 10 years, fish, mollusks and other sea life have adapted to this new habitat and it has become an important factor in their lives. If the Coastal Commission decides to remove this artificial reef it will destroy the habitat and leave a hole in that ecosystem.

Since Newport Beach and the state Department of Fish and Game authorized the plan, an official decision has already been made. The Coastal Commission does not focus on the Newport Beach region, so how would it know if this reef will be beneficial to that area or not? Streichenberger should be applauded for his efforts.

Todd Carlin

Laguna Niguel

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There are too many people, and there is too little ocean, to allow the bizarre activities of Streichenberger, who apparently scored $100,000 of taxpayer grant money to strew used tires on the ocean floor. Suppose every nutty amateur decided to do this, and the ocean became even more of a dumping ground for junk cars, old toilets, barrels of radioactive waste and so on.

Streichenberger, backed by the ultra-right Pacific Legal Foundation, is being used as a tool in this year’s attack on the Coastal Commission, which ordered him to clear the mess. The article defends his so-called reef as an attempt to grow mussels for food to “feed the hungry.”

Streichenberger should stick to enjoying the ocean as he claims to.

Doug Korthof

Seal Beach