I would recommend Gary Thorne (BDN, Jan. 17) research his facts a little better so he can correct his editorial errors, be a little shorter on talk and longer on facts. He speaks of no more roads, no more access points and no more dams. John’s Bridge access point has been used for many years before as well as after 1970 because the Bureau of Parks and Lands rules in place did not define Allagash Wilderness Waterway access points (as illegal or legal).

I canoed under the John’s Bridge in the mid-1960s, where it was a point of access by bridge with a road leading to and from it. So, I guess Mr. Thorne would have to agree, if we use his recommendation, we should certainly have the John’s Bridge area as an approved access point.

As a point of information the bridge, its approaches and roadways are private property and belong to a local landowner. The BPL just received written permission at my instigation to control and supervise access from the bridge system this spring. They had no written authority from the landowner to enforce AWW rules on this private property prior to this spring.

Is anybody aware the foot-path to little Allagash falls was taken from us as an official access point this last year? My family used to enjoy day walks (no camping) to the falls but that has been taken from us at the request of the “other side ” because we were being intrusive by being present.

I have been associated with the Allagash river nearly 50 years since my father contracted to build the first concrete bridge in Allagash in the early 1950s. I am also a member of the AWW advisory committee and spend a lot of time with my family in the Allagash where I owned a Maple sugary and presently own a camp.

Frederick L. Denico

Vassalboro

In a Jan. 18 decision, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife caved in to the hunting and trapping lobby and reinstated the barbaric practice of snaring coyotes and hunting them with dogs in areas that are habitat to Maine’s threatened Canada lynx. This happened despite warnings by their own biologists in the lynx protection program that this poses a definite danger to the lynx.

According to the pro trapping lobby who pushed for this ill-advised plan, “if snaring saves one deer, it’s worth the effort.”

In my opinion if Maine loses one rare Canada lynx to a trap, it is an environmental disaster.

Rob Brooks

Montville

Note to readers: The NEWS asks that letters be kept brief and reserves the right to edit submissions for libel, taste, clarity, and to fit available space. Letters should include a signature, full name, address, and daytime phone number. Letters may be mailed to: P.O. Box 1329, Bangor, ME 04402, or e-mailed: bdnsports@bangordailynews.net