This is a response to the article printed in The Marietta Times on Sept. 19, concerning the erosion of the Ohio River bank and the clearing and trimming of the brush and trees.
I love trees! My neighbors think I am strange because I kiss the tree in back of my condo. Yet, my tree has grown larger and has been trimmed more often than all the others planted at the same time. My father, the Washington County Game Warden, when given trees from the State of Ohio organized Boy Scouts and others to plant pines on farms to prevent erosion. He did not plant trees on river banks.
Look across the river. West Virginia has an excellent Natural Wildlife Resource Department. Are they allowing brush and trees to grow on the edge of the Ohio River landing? Are they planting trees on Buckley's Island to prevent erosion? No, they are not!
I have traveled to Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare's birthplace. The river bank is beautifully trimmed, grassed, and maintained. Even Turkey on the edge of the Mediterranean takes pride and manicures the edge where the water meets lands. So, am I to believe the Marietta Tree Commission is the only source of truth on this issue? Is the rest of the world crazy? When roots meet water anywhere on this earth, water follows the roots into the soil and erodes, destroying land, leaving the bank weak, and the loose soil falls away into the water. The Ohio River bank has been eroding for the 23 years I have lived in my home. The lamp posts were on dry land and had 3 or 4 feet left until the edge of the bank. The leaders of the Tree Commission need to drive to Ohio Street, park in front of my home, and see the position of the lamp posts now. Open your eyes and see the erosion the brush and trees have caused over the last 20 years. If you are now realizing the Ohio River bank is eroding, it is only because you can finally see the problem since the bank has been cleared of years of untrimmed brush and tree roots.
In order for persons or organizations to remain in power they have to have cause. Truth, many times is twisted and spun to maintain power in the hands of a few. This is the world we live in. When viewed from Williamstown the cleared banks are beautiful. For the first time in 20 years we had hundreds of citizens sitting in front of our condos to watch the fireworks. With trees trimmed and brush cut and cleared more people could finally see and enjoy the moment.
Dianne Wehrs Vezza
Marietta
