As we report in this week’s issue, the Shephard’s Road bridge in Fenner that was washed out by the July 1 storm will cost an estimated $100,000 to repair — with a majority of the cost coming from the replacement and reinstallation of a culvert pipe under the road rather than from fixing the road itself. Fenner Highway Superintendent Dan Smith said last week that is because the force of the storm changed the course of the stream from a straight line to an “S” shape. The state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has forbid the town from cleaning out the extra earth and rocks that filled the stream and changed its course — and thereby returning it to its straight course — and said the bridge and culvert must be changed to align with the new reality.

Why? Because the stream (currently running at about one-inch depth) is a protected trout stream, and re-coursing the stream could hurt the trout.

Really?

This is certainly a case of both environmentalism and government control run amok. A stream that has been altered by washed-in sediment cannot be cleaned out and returned to how it was because of the fish (that cannot run through it right now because it is too shallow)? Rather, town and state taxpayers will foot an enormous bill to completely alter the road and the pipes underneath it.

That is ridiculous. And in next week’s issue, we hope to have a substantial explanation of the state DEC as to why this is so.