How they feel about the eel

If you want to know how to deal with eel grass, just ask any of us

“old timers” on Balboa Island’s Grand Canal. Back in the 1950’s,

every summer, people used garden rakes with extension poles to rake

out the eel grass in front of their homes. Our parents did this so we

kids could swim in the canal without our feet touching “the weeds,”

as we called the grass back then.

We hated the eel grass because it felt “creepy” on our legs and

feet. Little kids were afraid of monsters lurking in the grassy

depths. We’d pull bags of the stuff up on the beach and throw it in

the trash. By the next summer, the eel grass had grown back and the

process was repeated. Every so often the city would dredge the canal

and we were free of the “creepy” weeds for a year or two, but it

always came back.

And that is my point: It always comes back.

I’m all for good environmental practices but I can’t understand

all this fuss over saving eel grass. Go ahead and dredge under the

piers. The weeds will come back. If they don’t, come on over to the

canal. We’re up to our knees in the “creepy” stuff. While you’re

here, help yourself to a few ducks. They’re back too.

MIKE BUETTELL

Balboa Island

Liposuction is the answer to the eel grass dilemma. Seriously.

Instead of spending $300,000 to study the problem, why not encourage

some engineering firm, or “Monster Garage”-type entrepreneur to

develop a machine that penetrates under the eel grass and sucks out a

bunch of mud. The eel grass -- like skin in a liposuction operation

-- then drops down to a new “sculptured” level and everyone,

including pier owners, fish, and environmentalists are happy.

With hundreds of pier owners in Newport Beach, the right machine

in the right hands could make someone rich.

SUE BUETTELL

Balboa Island

My question is, does the $300,000 asked for a study of eel grass

balance out the lack of total support by our congressman for an

alternate airport at the former Marine base at El Toro? Does this

study help all of the people of Newport Beach or only the select few

who live in multimillion dollar houses on the waterfront with private

docks?

My heart goes out to those who live in waterfront houses and

cannot afford to maintain their dock area. Possibly they can

alleviate their pain and sell out to someone who can pay for the dock

maintenance rather than put the burden on the rest of us who are also

unable to afford to live in waterfront properties, in addition, we

must pay for any landscaping problems we have on our property. With a

Federal Government debt spiraling, it is unfair to place this

additional burden on the rest of us.

JACK DELUCA

Newport Beach

The eel grass issue is simple. Spray it with Agent Orange and

concrete over it and stop fluffing around.

WILFRED KNIGHT

Corona del Mar