-Cold frames extend the growing season -South facing garage window work area -Ash tree management plan: the dreaded Emerald Ash Borer is 5 miles away       Add Comment Whatever you do, don’t put the blame on you, Blame it on the rain Milli Vanilli Rob and Fab were right: Heavy rains can overwhelm our sewers and septic fields, wash animal waste, fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, plant matter and soil into our Reservoir. They got it wrong on the “don’t put the blame on you” part. Our land use and land management practices influence the availability of these water contaminants. Together, rain and land use and management are the primary factors influencing our water quality. One of these factors is beyond our control. The other, land use and management, is entirely within our control.  A Cause and Effect, or Fishbone Diagram, can be a helpful tool to identify root cause. Understanding cause is important because once we get it, we can take appropriate corrective actions. Data analysis can help quantify the causes but it is important to understand there are multiple sources of our Reservoir’s water quality problems. Put the blame on us. The good news is that we can all be part of the solution. Our Watershed Management Plan documents corrective actions, called Best Management Practices (BMPs), which can lessen the impact of some of our land use decisions. Sometimes minor tweaks in land management can make a big difference. Phosphorus free lawn fertilizer is a good start. Much more needs to be done. The key to success is a commitment by the entire community to work towards a common goal of cleaner water. Please see our Watershed Management Plan for a listing of Best Management Practices. Links are available at geistwatershed.com. BMPs for urban areas will be the focus of a future article. |
