Do your part while boating
Waterways need protection too

Picture it. It's a bright, breezy morning, the skies are clear and the birds are singing.

As you lie in bed basking in the warmth of another beautiful morning, you decide that it's the perfect day to go boating.

You get up, shower and dress, and head to the marina for a run on the river.

While cruising along in your boat, you come upon an area littered with trash. The water is so murky and the air so pungent that it makes your stomach turn.

The sight ruins your picture-perfect outing and you wonder how something like that could happen.

Well, that is exactly what happens when people fail to do their part when boating.

We only have one world and it's important that we protect it. The same goes for our waterways.

There are only so many lakes, rivers and oceans in the world, and once they have been damaged, they are not easy to clean up. It can take years and years, and thousands of dollars, to clean up the smallest of lakes.

When boating, keep the waterways clean and clear by following these tips:

t Heed all regulations for the area, especially for sewage discharge form vessels.

t Clean the hull of your vessel carefully, making certain you use nontoxic, biodegradable products when possible and tarps to prevent the products from entering waterways.

t Apply paint to the bottom of your boat only as needed and use tarps to prevent any spills from entering waterways.

t Prevent fuel spills by placing absorbent pads in your bilge and wipe up any spills that do occur quickly.

t Recycle oil, fuel and antifreeze; do not dispose of them in waterways.

t Report any oil spills you find in waterways to the proper authorities.

t Pick up any plastic you see floating in waterways and dispose of it properly onshore to prevent damage to animals and other boats.

t Stow away any trash you create while on the boat and dispose of it properly onshore.

t Reduce trash by using recyclable and reusable products.

t Slow down, especially around sensitive habitats like bird rookeries.

These are just some of the steps you can take to protect our waterways.

Remember, our lakes, rivers and oceans are limited in supply, so it is essential that we all do our part to protect them.

Start today!

Spread the word and make water protection a lifelong habit for everyone you know!