State spending questionable along Highway 76

For almost ten years, when my friends and I ride our horses along the San Luis Rey River, there have been conservationists hired by the State to track the endangered Bells Verio bird. Six months out of the year we see various state workers tracking birds, frogs (moved from Pala), carnivores, and even weeds. They have built traps to kill unwanted cowbirds and even certain toads. I’m sure they have been paid a decent salary and over the years it adds up.

Taxpayers spent money to conserve the creatures, but now it looks like it was just a legal obligation of some sort, so Caltrans could do whatever they wish with the land.

For the past six weeks, workers have descended upon the eight miles of property next to SR76, spraying the Arunda (giant crab grass) with Round-Up poison. They have plans to eradicate two other prevalent non-native plants.

CalTrans has hired people who have driven tractors and 4-wheel drive vehicles through this delicate landscape, without concern for the endangered animals.

Our single track horse trails are crisscrossed with wide swaths cut by tractors mowing down everything in their paths and vehicles carrying huge vats of poison that they spray on plants in and along the river. What a huge waste of tax dollars!

Why pay conservationists all these years when they are obviously could care less about the wildlife?

What a crock and a waste!

Toni Costello

Oceanside