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July is Lakes Appreciation Month
Did you know that, even excluding Alaska, there are 100,000 lakes larger than 100 acres in the United States?Alaska alone supposedly has several million of them.
But did you know there are 41 million acres of lakes and reservoirs in the country?
This little guessing game is over and the time has come to get serious about our lakes. Our beaches, rivers and lakes are the number one vacation choice for Americans. Each year, we take close to two billion fishing, swimming and boating trips, or just relax around our favorite water destination.
We use our lakes and reservoirs for a variety of other purposes, too. They supply 70 percent of our drinking water, as well water for industries and farms. They are vital to flood control. However, lakes are often considered as "free" resources by lake users and this can result in abuse and neglect. Nearly 40 percent of America's lakes are polluted, according to EPA. Nutrients, metals and silt are the most common pollutants.
Lake Appreciation Month is a reminder to reflect on the value and importance of our nation’s most under-appreciated resource. Better yet, if you want to continue enjoying our wonderful lakes, do something to protect them, like picking up litter around the shore and never putting trash or liquids in storm drains.
Learn other things you can do to help our lakes continue benefitting you and the rest of us on EPA's Clean Lakes Web site.
