Lakes Environmental Association Educates Students Through Hey You! Cruise on Long Lake in Naples

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Lakes Environmental Association Educates Students Through Hey You! Cruise on Long Lake in Naples

Lakes Environmental Association Educates Students Through Hey You! Cruise on Long Lake in Naples

Almost Summer on Long Lake, Naples, Maine

by Leigh Macmillen Hayes
Shouts of “Hey You!” echo across Long Lake in Naples each June as sixth grade students in the Sebago Lakes Region who have completed the Lakes Environmental Association’s Living Connections Program enjoy a cruise on the Songo River Queen II.

 

 

 

 

 


This culminating activity brings all the lessons students have learned about shoreland zoning and water quality to life.
LEA staff and volunteers welcome the students aboard the boat, which is a replica of the famed Mississippi River Paddle Wheelers.
As the tour begins, teacher/naturalist Mary Jewett, quizzes the students. For each correct answer, they receive a prize—either a balsam fir sapling, LEA sticker or a pencil. The students express their knowledge about watersheds, lake hydrology, phosphorus and other nutrients, chlorophyll, algal blooms, vegetated buffers, erosion control, thermocline, stratification and turnover—to name a few. It’s impressive to listen to their responses.
As the boat cruises along, Mary notices a violation occurring on shore. On a beach, one person shovels sand out of a wheelbarrow while another spreads it with a rake.

adding sand 2


At the top of their lungs, the kids shout, “Hey You!”
The people continue to spread the sand so the kids shout again—only this time they’re even louder.
On shore, the rake and shovel are dropped, as the culprits raise their hands. Using the loudspeaker system, Mary explains that it’s illegal to add sand to the beach. The couple run off to hide.
Though the kids quickly catch on that this is a role playing situation, it creates opportunities to discuss the implications.
In this case, dumping sand can cause significant problems for the lake because it contains phosphorus, which contributes to decreased water clarity and algal blooms. Wildlife is also affected, e.g. decreased spawning habitat for fish, and increased opportunities for invasive aquatic plants like milfoil.
The quiz continues as the boat motors along, until another “Hey You!” moment. The second altercation is a woman spreading fertilizer (flour in this case), while a man mows a lawn using the lowest setting (or so it looks from the boat). Topical fertilizers often contain phosphorus and other nutrients that wash into the lakes. By mowing the lawn too short, this is even more likely to happen.

fertilizer, mower


At a third stop, the students see people trimming and removing the vegetated buffer, which they know is the last line of defense between a home and the lake. The buffer provides a filter for any run-off, thus helping to keep excessive nutrients, sediment and storm water out of the lake. Native trees, shrubs, flowers and ground cover should be left in place.

trimming buffer


Mary does remind the kids that shoreland zoning laws do allow homeowners to limb up to 1/3 the height of a tree in order to maintain a view.
Following the third stop, the boat pauses in the middle of the lake. Students are divided into teams, which rotate through water testing stations where they practice using such devices as a secchi disk, dissolved oxygen meter and core sampler.
Then the quiz continues as the boat makes its way along the eastern shore. Volunteers from each of the water testing stations ask questions and again the students who answer correctly are rewarded. Of course, they are told to raise their hands only if they haven’t already earned a prize.
Suddenly, someone onboard spots two men wearing hardhats and attempting to cut pine trees within mere feet of the lake. They are quickly admonished by this now savvy group of students.

cutting trees


As the boat passes by the Naples town beach, they observe some people wading in the water. But . . . there is also a small group of people standing by the water’s edge drinking from cans and then tossing them into the water. You know by now what happens.

party 2


It doesn’t end there. Close by, a man lathers up—yes, in the water. Under state law, it is illegal to intentionally introduce foreign substances, including soap and shampoo, into the water.

bathing


The cruise comes to an end, but it is hoped that by seeing the volunteer actors on shore, students are able to make the connection between their in-class learning and real life situations when it comes to water quality.
To learn more about lakefront properties for sale on Long Lake in Naples, click on the green box above.
To learn more about Long Lake and Naples, Maine, check out the blog links below.
Picturesque Naples, Maine, is set between Brandy Pond and Long Lake
Naples Hosts the Annual Maine Blues Fest Beside Long Lake and Brandy Pond

 

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