You work on them, Play on them, Drink from them. But have you recently taken the time to really appreciate your local lake, pond, or reservoir?

With increasing population, development, and stress on our waterbodies Lakes Awareness and Appreciation Month is a reminder that we should think about where we would be without water.

All life relies on this valuable resource and we often take for granted that water will always be there and will always be usable.

Gov. Tom Corbett has once again proclaimed July as Lakes Awareness Month!  This is the ideal time to set aside a week, a day or even just an hour to celebrate your favorite lake, pond or reservoir by participating in one or more of the following activities:

— Assist with volunteer monitoring activities on your waterbody or in your watershed;

— Participate in the annual Secchi Disk Dip-In. More information can be found online;

— Take a day off and visit a local lake or pond;

— Go boating, kayaking, canoeing, or sailing;

— Go swimming or SCUBA diving;

— Go fishing;

— Organize a lake or watershed clean-up event;

— Organize a watershed storm drain stenciling program;

— Have your septic system pumped if you live close to a waterbody;

— Go to a local or state park beach on the shores of a lake, pond or reservoir;

— Go birding or picture taking around a lake or pond;

— If you are an artist, draw or paint a lake scene and display it to remind yourself of the great time you had at the lake while you were creating this work of art;

— Organize a family day at a local lake or pond; and

— Most of all, remember to enjoy and appreciate these valuable freshwater resources!

For more information, visit the PA Lake Management Society website.

(Reprinted from the July 2 Penn State Extension Watershed Winds newsletter.)

7/7/2014