To the editor:

It’s good to have discussion about the South Lawrence Trafficway, but let’s try to stick to the facts.

Mike Ford (Public Forum, June 27) misinterprets Paul Brockington’s conclusions about cultural use of the wetlands. Dr. Brockington found plenty of evidence for their use by American Indians but none that would be permanently damaged by the SLT. Most historical use communicated to Dr. Brockington occurred north of 31st Street or a mile south along the river banks, not along the 32nd Street alignment. The type of use documented is why federal agencies rejected a request to designate the Baker Wetlands a “traditional cultural property.”

Mr. Ford also condemns my “manipulation of nature.” When Baker legally received this land in 1968 from the Department of Health, Education and Welfare instead of the Department of Interior as Mr. Ford claims (Public Forum, Aug. 10), approximately 75 percent of the land had been cultivated. All of it was effectively drained. No one other than Dr. Ivan Boyd of Baker and Dr. E Raymond Hall of KU believed it had potential of becoming wetlands again. Without our “manipulation” there would be no “Boyd Lake” (wetlands) today.

Several letters give the impression that these wetlands are some priceless, national treasure to never be touched. Our mitigation will not exclude visitors from experiencing nature but will invoke curiosity about this ecosystem that can only be quenched with hands-on experience. The mitigation will improve access for people of all ages through additional parking and a continuation of the hike/bike trail from west of U.S. Highway 59.

Roger Boyd,

Baldwin