I was out this weekend on the River, per usual. I love getting out and just being on the water, and enjoying my surroundings, but usually I am paddling my canoe as fast as I can trying to beat as many people as possible in the weekend races of the summer months. I was out this weekend, going along by a few friends (all of us dripping in sweat and puffing along) and I saw some pop bottle floating down the river. This happens all the time, but it makes me so sad.
After spending countless hours on the water, I have a great respect for its beauty and usefulness. Water touches every part of our life; it is vital to our existence. I have also spent many hours cleaning the river. Last summer, my family and friends took out our canoes and loaded up truckloads full of garbage three weeks in a row. Someone had decided to move from their trailer, and not wanting to hire a garbage service decided the river was the best place for unwanted items. Bags of clothes, hair products, diapers, strollers, dog houses, and even a swimming pool liner were thrown in the river. We called the police department when we found the person's address on an envelope, but still nothing happened. I just can't imagine being so thoughtless about the river to do something like that.
I know that farmers do contribute to water pollution with phosphates and nitrates. As we have learned more about it we need to make decisions that are more conscious of the effect on our resources. On an individual level, each person needs to take responsibility for keeping trash out of our water. Even in my races, I make sure I don't leave anything in the water. I want to be active in keeping the water and land clean, and figure out better ways to treat the soil. I know that over time our ideas on what is right will change, but we have to do the best we can with what we know now.
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