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- From: env-link+@andrew.cmu.edu (Student Enviro-Link)
- Newsgroups: sci.environment
- Subject: Re: E-Link: Mt. Graham: UPitt Protest (Press Release)
- Message-ID: <wf_Bqlu00iUz43IfR8@andrew.cmu.edu>
- Date: 11 Dec 92 08:28:01 GMT
- Article-I.D.: andrew.wf_Bqlu00iUz43IfR8
- References: <12085@ncratl.AtlantaGA.NCR.COM> <1992Dec10.160507.132468@watson.ibm.com> <STEINLY.92Dec10105729@topaz.ucsc.edu>
- <1992Dec10.215914.89492@watson.ibm.com>
- Organization: Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA
- Lines: 53
- In-Reply-To: <1992Dec10.215914.89492@watson.ibm.com>
-
- >In article <STEINLY.92Dec10105729@topaz.ucsc.edu>
- steinly@topaz.ucsc.edu (Stein
- >n Sigurdsson) writes:
- >> I'd go so far as to argue that not only does in not threaten the squirrels
- >> in any way, it is actually one of the best protections the Mt Graham
- >> ecosystem could get as it precludes other damaging developments proposed
- >> for the mountain.
- >
- >Clearly the safest outcome for the squirrel is for Mt Graham to be made a
- >conservation area and the observatory be put on another mountain. Its
- >possible that the observatory (with appropriate precautions) will not endanger
- >the suirrel, but I'd like to see expert opinion on this. Impact is tricky to
- >judge in small eco-systems like this as subtle effects can produce
- catastrophe.
- >
- >Andrew Taylor
-
- Actually, from the numerous environmental impact statements that have
- been done for the project (both independent and university studies) have
- shown that the project will directly impact the prime habitat of the Mt.
- Graham Red Squirrel. Here is why:
-
- The roads that are being built to the sites are (naturally) along the
- flattest routes possible. These flat areas are the food gathering sites
- for the squirrels. The pine cones and other food do not roll down the
- steep slopes to either side. If you look at the geography of the
- mountain, you will see that the top of it is a knife-edge type ridge
- with very steep slopes to either side. The roads and sites have to be
- built on flat (or semi-flat) areas, and the proposed and existing
- building sites for roads and structures occupy an estimated 80% of the
- squirrels' feeding grounds.
-
- The telescopes themselves are not all that bad, unfortunately this is a
- COMPLEX of telescopes (radio, optical, etc) that take up quite a surface
- area on the top of the mountain. Please don't think that this is "just a
- telescope" and that there can be no damage. Also, when you factor in
- the impact of the project, remember the miles and miles of roads that
- need to go to and from the site.
-
- These roads also leave lots of open spaces across which the squirrels
- need to travel. This keeps them wide open for predatory attacks. If
- the project were to be abandoned, the best thing that could happen is
- that trees would be felled across the road, and the entire mountain
- would be abandoned.
-
- Also, somebody had made the statement, "A telescope is better than what
- other projects were planned for the mountain." Praytell, what other
- projects have been proposed? (besides of course a nature preserve)
-
- Just some thoughts,
- Josh Knauer
- Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh
- Western PA Area Coordinator for SEAC
-