Letter: Boat docks – do what’s right for majority

Dear Editor,

A DNR website says “Today, only 165 rivers in the United States are protected by the federal wild and scenic river designation. That number represents just 1/4 of 1 percent of the rivers in our country; more than half of the designated rivers are located in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. The presence of the St. Croix River on this exclusive list is special and significant. ... The lower St Croix is a national and scenic treasure.”

As the legal property owner, the city of Hudson has the primary stewardship and accountability in the dock issue. Just because someone puts a personal item on property belonging to another does not give them the right to keep it there. No one on First Street appears to have a permit or the legal documentation allowing docks, and it should be an easy fix to ask them to remove them. Both the DNR and the city of Hudson say they are illegal. Hopefully your city government will do what is right for the majority and not the minority.

Those of us who enjoy walking along the paths, or even those living near the riverfront, the visitors who see the beauty of the river and the city of Hudson from both the water and the shore, should be able to depend on the governments of our cities to preserve these natural resources for the enjoyment of all.

There are boat ramps within easy access, marinas with slips nearby, so there is no critical reason the ramps need to mar the shoreline.

For the city of Hudson, as the property owner, it is vital they protect these resources for today and future generations to enjoy.

Tags: opinion, letters, environment