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Summertime in the BelgradesContentsfor Printing Article Summaries |
The Tyranny of Small DecisionsBy Mike Little No one chooses to make a lake turn green. Yet the cumulative effect of many choices by many people is just that. As the ecologist William Odum wrote: "The insidious quality of small decision effects is probably best exemplified by water and air pollution problems. Few cases of cultural eutrophication of lakes are the result of intentional and rational choice. Instead, lakes gradually become more and more eutrophic through the cumulative effects of small decisions: the addition of increasing numbers of domestic sewage and industrial outfalls along with increasing run-off from more and more housing developments, highways, and agricultural fields." No one person planned or is responsible for East Pond turning green. But we are now all responsible for bringing East Pond back, and keeping the other ponds from going green. How big shall my lawn be? Where will the run-off from my driveway go? What about the downspouts from my roof? Is my property lake-friendly? How can I make it more so? Am I willing to spend extra money on better quality mulch, or phosphate free fertilizer? Did my contractor properly install the silt-fence before beginning work? These are small decisions that must be made by each of us. But these are all real decisions with real consequences — consequences that will be paid some by us, but more by our children and grandchildren. What you do today — the decisions you make about your property — wherever it is in the watershed — will effect the way your grandchildren can enjoy the Belgrade Lakes. Think about it. And decide wisely. Mike Little is the outgoing executive director of the Belgrade Regional Conservation Alliance. He can be contacted at Thank You, Mike Little!
As the summer of 2006 draws to a close, so does the work of Mike Little, executive director of the Belgrade Regional Conservation Alliance. Mike took over at BRCA in 1999. Under his direction, the organization has accomplished much. Watershed studies for all the ponds, grants for many water quality-friendly improvements and land acquisitions, presentations and displays at lake association meetings, advising the Conservation Corps, removing mergansers in the swimmers' itch eradication effort, and diving to inspect invasive plants are just a few of Mike's contributions. Under Mike, the BRCA/Belgrade Lakes Association office in the Boathouse in Belgrade Lakes Village has become a vital center for information, literature, conversation, maps, meetings, and coordination for milfoil inspections and Conservation Corps activities. Starting in 2000, Mike has been a weekly columnist for Summertime in the Belgrades. His "Watershed Wisdom" columns have been timely, helpful, and very much appreciated. As Mike moves on to be become a consultant, we wish him the best of luck. Many thanks, Mike! | ||