Invasive weeds crowding out rare gems
Re: “Some might say it’s futile, but pulling thistles sows hope,” Nov. 16 commentary and “Clearing the path of goat heads,” Nov. 18 letter to the editor
I was gratified to read the article on the community and personal benefits to pulling musk thistle near Jackson, Wyo., and the subsequent letter from “Goathead Greg,” who endeavors on Denver’s urban trails. My bête noire is not musk thistle, which, as the writer points out, is a pretty noxious weed that attracts butterflies and bees, but rather Russian thistle. It has the Putinesque attributes of being invasive and relentless, contains no beautiful flowers for pollinators, and engulfs our natural areas.
If you visit the picnic stop at Vogel Canyon south of La Junta, be prepared to approach your table through a forest of this prickly menace. The valley floor just beyond is so impenetrable that viewing the petroglyphs is almost impossible. Up north, the Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge sent out an appeal to the Colorado Native Plant Society for volunteers to clear a hillside of Russian thistle that is endangering the rare North Park phacelia. And CDOT has added to the problem. The Pueblo rest stop used to host some beautiful native plants including a bush morning glory and species of milkweed commonly found farther south. Since closing the rest stop, you can only find Russian thistle and no natives around. (If you’re wondering, the plant is just as abundant near Denver).
Natural resource managers cannot do the job alone due to staffing problems. If you enjoy and value the outdoors that you use, volunteer on a weed crew.
C. Greenman, Lakewood
Put plastic in its place
Re: “Plastic is polluting our recycling efforts,” Nov. 17 letter to the editor
A letter writer questioned the need to recycle plastic. As I was sitting in a beautiful Denver park the other day, enjoying the day, I looked up at a tree and I saw no less than three plastic bags entwined in its branches. That is why, if they are going to keep bombarding us with plastic, we need to recycle it. I do agree with the writer that we must wean ourselves away from plastic throwaways as soon as possible.
Bart Cox, Denver
“Support small nuclear projects”
Re: “U.S. bets on small nuclear reactors,” Nov. 14 news stories
I’m an Environmental Studies major and recently attended a lecture about nuclear energy. The hesitancies from generations before mine were evident due to Chernobyl, Fukushima and Three Mile Island, contrasting from the more positive perspective housed by my fellow Gen-Zers. It was interesting to read the same sentiment expressed by the Biden administration and Republicans alike, especially through the implementation of small nuclear reactors.
Even though nuclear energy has its benefits, its main downfalls include optimal planning and handling radioactive waste. Delayed plans aren’t helping reach goals of near-zero carbon emissions in upcoming decades, so we need to maximize the energy currently being produced while new reactors are built simultaneously. The Big Wires Act has been introduced in the Senate and House at an optimal time.
This bill requires the transfer of 30% of energy’s peak demand between regions. Different places can use different methods to achieve this, such as building transmission lines or even upgrading existing facilities. Updates sound familiar regarding nuclear energy, especially considering the Big Wires Act encourages states to build clean energy-oriented infrastructure. It’s a win-win to support small nuclear projects that can have a greater impact on net-zero carbon emissions.
I appreciate Sen. John Hickenlooper’s introduction of this legislation and encourage Sen. Michael Bennet and Rep. Jason Crow to cosponsor the act, if not for nuclear, for the state of energy in this country.
Sara Eyassu, Aurora
