Lake Wazee Trash or Treasure

[tewest]

Lake Wazee Trash or Treasure:

The following is a post I submitted to mnscuba.com in response to the discussion on the trees and the STUFF in Lake Wazee.


Topic # 1 the trees in Lake Wazee. That is a no brainier. We need to do what we can to preserve them for as long as we can. So instead of just shouting an opinion please take the time to offer some suggestions that we can take to the park department.
Below are a few of mine.

How do we do that?
   #1 We need to form a group of people that are concerned about the lake and the facilities it offers to us the divers that use it. I have started the process of forming a dive club. I am in the process of obtaining a non-profit LLC for “Friends of Lake Wazee Scuba Club”. Hopefully there will be enough interest to develop some influence with the County Board. The park department is on our side. My past experience along these lines tells me that there is a lot of talk, but when it comes to dollars and time, those that say the most do little to support what they have preached.
   #2 We all need to talk to or somehow notify people using the lake, before they get in the water. After you witness someone trashing the trees, a considerable amount of damage has been done that never will be replaced no mater how you react to the situation after the dive.
   #3 We need to get every instructor that brings open water students to the lake, to make the trees and there protection a part of every dive briefing they do for there new divers. We also have to extend these same concerns to all of our students every time we do a continuing education course. And from what I have personally witnessed it would not be a bad idea to do the same in the dive briefings for the supposedly more advanced diver doing there training dives for decompression and mixed gas.
   #4 We need to get a handout printed to be handed to divers when they register, the attendant can ask if there is anyone that has not dove at the lake and offer the hand out to them. This is something I think would work well and is relatively inexpensive.
   #5 We need the county to post some signs at the main dive sites, as well as the entrance. I will be calling the man in charge of the county parks tomorrow, to find out if this is possible, and to what extent they may need the users(that’s us) to participate.
   #6 Caution
We need to exercise caution when we approach anyone from Jackson Counties County board. I have been at the county board meetings for other changes concerning the park such as fees and event use, and a few of them are just looking for a reason to stop diving, as well as other water sports right down to swimming. They feel any use other than fishing will degrade the lake. So before anyone goes too far on any one topic please consider the consequences.

Topic # 2
The stuff in the lake.
This one is a little tougher than the first as to gaining a consensus, but I would wager it is pretty clear cut as a legal issue. In the state of Wisconsin (as I have been led to believe) it is illegal to put any foreign mater in any public body of water. Hat means that any one doing so is breaking a state littering law. Why would a statue be any different than a beer can or a soda bottle?
I personally like to have some places to take students that they can identify and plan around. I am also a big fan of the natural beauty of things. That is why most people dive. Remember one mans trash is another mans gold.
I do not have any solutions on this one other than a total ban sanctioned and enforced by the county or allowing certain items as allowed by the powers to be.
To everyone:
Good diving.