Wapsi River is not a hidden gem

In the July 16 article 'Touring the Gems of Buchanan County” in the Jesup Citizen Herald, Dan Cohen, director of the Buchanan County Conservation Board, encouraged people to tour 'the gems of Buchanan County,” of which the Wapsi River was one.

If his article has you thinking about doing so, there are a few things that were left out of the article that should be considered.

To begin with, there are millions of gnats and bloodthirsty mosquitoes just waiting for the opportunity to attack you. This is a particularly good year for them.

There also are ticks, common wood tick and the more dangerous deer tick. If you plan to wear shorts, don't. You'll probably be wading through waist-high poison ivy and/or stinging nettle.

Cohen refers to the Wapsi as a hidden gem and natural treasure and, unlike him, I have lived along it for 45 years. These are not terms I would use to describe the Wapsi.

Merle Wilson

Jesup