Posted on April 22, 2016You change the world not by your direct actions, but by influencing your neighbours, family and friends. Together you can accomplish more than you can by yourself.
So to protect your watershed environment ...
everyone needs to be involved. Education is key. Before you can get someone to learn, you have to get their attention. Not everyone is going to be on the same page. For some it is obvious what to do, and what not to do, to help your lake or river. For others they may take water quality for granted, it will always be ok or it is what it is – I don’t have any control over it.
So how do you get their attention?
Get them talking first – do they like swimming, boating, fishing – all these things are better with clean water. Did they notice that the algae and other weeds are worse this year? Did they hear about the blue-green algae bloom, which is toxic, on the lake a few miles away? That could happen here you know!
Climate change ...
Everyone is aware of the perils of climate change … tell them that the weeds are only going to keep getting worse
Financial impact
it could affect property values – who would want to buy a cottage on a polluted lake? If the environment doesn’t get them excited then a potential financial impact probably will.
Listen to what they have to say ...
and chances are the things they are concerned about can be tied back to water quality. Water quality is priority 1. Get their attention and then empower them to do the right thing through education.