Living Gently at the Water's Edge
Help us to pass on our freshwater legacy to our children
By Amanda Comission
Not too long ago, austere log cabins used to dot our waterways, tucked indistinctly along the shoreline. But more and more the natural shoreline is giving way to huge waterfront homes with boathouses that could sleep a small army and house a flotilla. These cottages, equipped with all the comforts of home, are there due to the natural surroundings, but could jeopardize just that.
The concrete jungle is slowly encroaching on Nature’s wonderland. Of course, it is there to be enjoyed, but land use can negatively affect water quality. As such, there are many things cottagers and boaters living at the water’s edge can do to protect the pristine waters we love to admire and enjoy.
The unaltered landscape is a natural filtration system for rain water. Water flow through the system gets faster when land is cleared of trees and vegetation. This means the ground does not have the chance to soak up storm water, which will also more likely carry silt, dirt, fertilizer and debris to the lake. This often results in “nutrient loading” – elevated levels of nitrates and phosphates – in our bodies of water. This is a serious problem in freshwater lakes.
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