Which invasive species poses the greatest threat to our lovely and much-loved Carlin Lake? Would you be surprised to hear that the most threatening species is ourselves? As Pogo was credited with saying, "We have met the enemy, and he is us."
We humans are the factor that will most influence the future of Carlin Lake. And, at the annual meeting in July, Bill Draves, reporting for the water quality committee, said, "So far, so good!!
For the last two decades volunteers have taken and recorded clarity levels, (Wises, Kubicas, Alex Watras and John Farwell) and water clarity has not diminished in all that time.
For the committee, Bill Draves thanked all of us for our stewardship of the lake, and says we are the only reason that the lake maintains it high level of clarity, for ourselves, for our children and grandchildren.
He mentioned the five main things that we know and can continue to do.
1) Keep the shoreline natural with bushes and other natural flora.
2) Keep lawns to a minimum, preventing run-off water into the lake.
3) If at all possible, do not use lawn fertilizer, the main reason for deterioration of other lakes in the state.
4) Urge your guests, family and friends to obey the 200 foot wake recommendation, to prevent shoreline wash.
5) Continue to remind visitors and guests to wash their boats, and to refrain from dumping bait fish into the lake.
Yay for ourselves, and yay for the lake!
(Photos compliments of staff photographer Bill Draves.)