The Cupertino Courier

Letters

Water district should have fixed weak links in flooding system

The recent flooding along the Calabazas Creek in Cupertino confirms what has been clear to many of us for a long time.

While the creek channel itself is adequate to carry most foreseeable flood flows, the culverts by which the creek passes under Bollinger Road and Miller Avenue are not large enough to accommodate a major flood. If only these inadequate culverts had been enlarged, there would have been no flooding at these sites.

One has to ask why the water district didn't give higher priority to fixing these weak links in the system, instead of putting time and money into more ambitious projects, such as the ongoing channel construction along the creek between Tantau and Homestead roads.

The good news--if there is good news in this--is that we have now seen where the water goes when it overflows the Bollinger bridge. It flowed through many surrounding streets but in most places did not rise above curb level. For the most part, these streets are contoured to carry off the water and not form "basins" in which it could accumulate. Thus, despite the rather large officially mapped flood zone, the number of homes at risk may be relatively small.

This is, of course, not good news if your home is near one of these culverts. These culverts should be replaced as soon as possible. Replacement of the Miller culvert is under way.

Perhaps the promise of some funding from the cities involved would speed work on the Bollinger one.

Tom Schaefer
Cupertino

Wilson's bond measure for the environment enhances CCC support

When not battling floods or fires, members of the California Conservation Corps are working in state parks, helping the Department of Fish and Game with stream enhancement and wildlife protection, tackling trail work in the Santa Monica Mountains and reducing fire danger in the Lake Tahoe area. They devote more than 3 million hours a year to natural resource work throughout California, much of it as a cost-effective labor force for other state agencies.

Gov. Wilson has proposed a strong environmental-protection bond issue for the California ballot this year, a $791 million measure that would preserve and enhance state parks, fund a Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program, restore coastal areas, acquire and protect wetlands and much more.

The California Conservation Corps likes to say that "Conservation is our middle name." The priorities outlined in the bond measure would focus attention on many of the areas where the corps plays an active role. With the adoption of Wilson's environmental-protection bond issue, the CCC would be able to provide even greater assistance into the next century.

Al Aramburu
State Director
California Conservation Corps

City council made the right decision against air cargo

In reference to a story The Courier reported on Jan. 21 ("Cupertino City Council rejects air cargo at Moffett Field"): The Cupertino City Council should be congratulated for taking a stand against future air cargo at Moffett Airfield. Communities under the mid-peninsula air space--Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Los Altos Hills, Saratoga, Palo Alto and Mountain View--will not tolerate the noise and congestion of air cargo jumbo jets for the sake of either the profit motive of air cargo corporations nor the desire by San Jose airport to dump their air traffic on us.

The comments of council-members Dean and Burnett, however, do represent soft spots in the resolve of the council to oppose air cargo traffic. Mr. Dean continues to state that he is "dubious ... that any decision by the surrounding councils would have a serious impact on NASA's future plans." That is, he implies that NASA may be less than sincere when representatives, in the press and at CAC meetings, declare that they would not do anything the local communities oppose. This give-up attitude is uninspiring, and all of the many people who have worked to oppose air cargo at Moffett would have preferred do-or-die saber rattling.

Mr. Burnett continues to beat the drum for the false hope that air operations could use a "route over San Francisco Bay instead." Don't you believe it. Descending flights into Moffett must land--just like the Navy P-3s have always done--into the wind, which, in this area, blows predominately from south to north. In addition, current air traffic from/to San Francisco, San Jose and Oakland is already complicated, making it difficult to control safety. Adding Moffett right in the middle would be extremely problematic.

In any case, the Cupertino Council is to be applauded for its enlightened gesture.

Carl Orta
Alliance for a New Moffett Field

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