TO THE EDITOR:
In response to Tuesday's article, "Donor attracts flak for plans," I am a scientist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute and professor at Pace University. My specialty is coral physiology, pathology and health.
I agree with Dr. Goreau that this golf course will kill the remaining reef at this location. I want to say that this is the worst project I have ever seen. We want it documented for the record that there are no environmental mitigation controls that can protect the reef from the Bakers Bay development.
Don't let these scientists, who work for the developers, trick you. These so called "protective measures" won't work! It is an embarrassment to say that "sand dunes" can control the nitrogen and phosphorus from trickling into the ground water and into the water column along the intertidal.
My work is dedicated to understanding the sensitivity and delicate symbiosis between coral and its symbiont, and I can say that even with these so called protective measures they are telling you about, their project will kill the reef with the overgrowth of algae that will smother the corals coupled with serious infections.
I am open to a debate with these so called scientists who say this project will not kill the coral.
James M. Cervino
Professor
Biology
