After three or more years of so-called construction to get the Arkansas River in Bighorn Sheep Canyon of southern Colorado ready for its Christo Curtains, curtains would, theoretically, go up without being caught by the rushing river.
Much of the canyon where the river flows would be uglified or destroyed. Many of the plants and animals would be gone. Many traffic delays would have happened and maybe some accidents. Recreation along the river would have been hampered or stopped for three years. Travelers would have learned to avoid Highway 50. Business would probably have diminished for three years.
Once the curtains were up they could quickly go down into the river. High wind, flash flood, earthquake (the river is on a network of fault lines), heavy hail storm, vehicle accident or, more probably, a terrorist attack on the curtains could bring them down.
Once the curtains were in the water, the heavy river would bunch them up, all tangled with anchors, cables, cement and rock. Miles of tangled material could form a high dam. The river could flood the road, adding cars and road to the dam. Trees could float on down the river, bringing down other sections of curtains. Thousands of lives could be lost. Bits of toxic material could bleed into the river and ocean for thousands of years, adding to already prevalent lethal plastic bits.
The Arkansas River runs through a narrow canyon between Salida and Canon City, Colo. On one side of the river winds a busy and dangerous Highway 50. It is just two lanes wide. On the other side of the river stretches an abandoned railway with its thousands of old creosoted ties. Anyone can imagine what a big flood would bring into the river.
The fabric that Christo wants to stretch over the river is made of a plastic called polystyrene. What we know of plastic is that it deteriorates into small dust-sized bits which end up in ocean currents. These tiny bits kill organisms that are first on the food chain.
Concerned individuals should write to the Colorado Bureau of Land Management (RGFO, OTR Comments, 3028 E. Main St., Canon City, CO 81212) or e-mail co_otr_comments@blm.gov. For faster results write the U.S. president with the concern that the Christo project could be another international disaster involving the Gulf of Mexico as well as the Arkansas River. Ask for an investigation of the possibility of river pollution as well as an investigation of those Colorado politicians who are for this dangerous project.
To contact the White House, write to President Barack Obama, The White House, Washington, DC 20500; call (202) 4556-1111 or e-mail president @whitehouse.gov.
Gary Golden
Howard, Colo.
