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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

March 20, 2002
©2002 San Francisco Chronicle

                 Editor -- Your article, "Lake Merced to get a
                 makeover" (March 16), was understated, if
                 anything, in describing as "historic" the agreement
                 involving Daly City, three golf courses around Lake
                 Merced and San Francisco. That agreement was
                 the product of intense negotiations in which each of
                 the parties made significant concessions and
                 sacrifices for the greater good of the community and
                 the environment.

                 One happy byproduct is that the Committee to
                 Save Lake Merced is dropping a lawsuit against the
                 Olympic Club, as the suit isn't necessary now that
                 the club has committed to the use of recycled water.

                 However, the agreement will be badly undermined if
                 San Mateo County continues its practice of issuing
                 well-drilling permits without carefully considering the
                 resulting environmental consequences. So our
                 committee is not dropping a different lawsuit against
                 the county, essentially asking that the county fully
                 comply with the California Environmental Quality
                 Act in permitting wells.

                 JERRY CADAGAN

                 Committee to Save Lake Merced

                 San Anselmo