As the group enjoyed dessert, Cynthia Kuhns, leader of our current Project, recapped briefly its purposes and how we hope to achieve our objectives. She also described what we’d be doing following the brief meeting. Demonstration tours were held on both the water and the lake shore. Speakers on the pontoon boats were Cynthia Kuhns and Scott Williams, aquatic biologists with LWRMA. (The boats had been generously provided by Captains John Laskey and Bobby Misenheimer.) Land tours were led by Phoebe Hardesty, Paul Carmichael and Tom Smith from the AVSWCD and NRCS.

The boat tours, lasting about an hour, allowed people to view the Lake from a different perspective. Attention was directed not only at the surrounding watershed and its impact on the Lake, but on the shoreline and how fragile and erodable it is. Questions and answers were fielded as the evening grew dim; it was pointed out that some weeds are good for the Lake and some aren’t. Purple Loosestrife, an attractive plant with purple flowers, is not good, and should be pulled out by its roots. It grows in shallow waters and on shore and replaces vegetation which nourishes fish and other lake critters.

The shore tours, alternating with the boat tours, focused on Jordan Shore Drive, its strengths, weaknesses and potential. Poorly constructed driveways and culverts, steep, bare embankments, sandy paths, improperly "aimed" drainpipes all contribute to NPS, the pollution washes into the lake via runoff during heavy rains and snowmelt.

Briefly, it was explained, eroding soil carries with it the nutrient, phosphorus. In excess, it changes the lake bottom, allowing more aquatic plants and tiny algae that live in the water, to grow. It’s a fertilizer for both the plants and algae; too much causes the algae to grow out of control and can turn an entire lake green and slimy. Preventing soil erosion and surface runoff in the first place is the best way to prevent water quality problems. And this is what our Demonstration Project is all about.

Planting buffers and stabilizing soils is a must. Examples of vegetated plantings were visible at the Misenheimer and Getchell properties. Rather than completely paving driveways, crushed rock can be used as an excellent alternative, providing a porous surface for absorption of water. Again, an example shown was the Getchell’s . An ongoing discussion provided lots of answers to questions "we were always afraid to ask." Many problem areas exist along Jordan Shore Drive, with multiple possibilities of solutions. Help is only a "blue card" or phone call away.

The evening was interesting and well done. Everyone learned something and as the evening ended we realized that it’s up to each of us to protect the Lake. Collectively, we can make a difference.