Captain Experiences, a fishing and hunting guide reservation platform, has just released a new report looking at water pollution in the U.S.
Context:
According to data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), over 70% of freshwater lakes, ponds, reservoirs, and wetlands (by acreage) and over 42% of creeks, rivers, and streams (by mileage) are considered too polluted for primary contact recreation, such as swimming. On average, there are nearly 35,000 waterborne illness cases caused by recreational water use in the U.S. every year.
Since being established in 1972, the Clean Water Act (CWA) has fallen short of its goal to make 100% of U.S. waters “fishable and swimmable,” in large part due to inefficient and insufficient water quality monitoring: Under the CWA, each state is supposed to assess all of its recreational-use lakes and rivers for impairments—to determine whether a body of water is polluted by various sources such as industrial waste, sewage, or agricultural runoff, rendering it unsuitable for its designated uses.
Unfortunately, the most recent figures show that only 19 states assessed even 50% of both their lakes and rivers for primary water contact recreation, which includes swimming. South Carolina hasn’t assessed, or even designated, any of its waters for primary contact recreation.
Analysis:
In order to determine the states with the worst water quality for swimming, researchers calculated the percentage of total acreage or mileage of assessed, untreated waters that were too polluted for swimming.
Key stats from the report:
States assess two different categories of recreational-use water bodies: (1) Lakes, ponds, reservoirs, and wetlands; and (2) creeks, rivers, and streams.
Lakes, ponds, reservoirs, and wetlands
•Nationally, by acreage, 77.4% of lakes, ponds, reservoirs, and wetlands have been adequately assessed for primary water contact impairments. Of those, 70.6% were found to be unsuitable for swimming.
•States in the Southwest tend to have the least contaminated waters. New Mexico (0.0%), Colorado (0.0%), and Texas (0.7%) all have less than 1% of recreational-use waters deemed impaired, and all three states have assessed at least two-thirds of all of those waters that reside within their state borders.
•In contrast, West Virginia has the largest share of impaired recreational lake acreage at 91.6%, but only 15.2% of all lake waters have been assessed, leaving over 20,000 acres of lakes uncertain for swimming.
Creeks, rivers, and streams
•Nationally, by mileage, only 37.3% of creeks, rivers, and streams have been adequately assessed for primary water contact impairments. Of those, 42.4% were found to be unsuitable for swimming.
•Colorado (3.0%), Arkansas (3.5%), and Vermont (3.8%) stand out as the only states to have less than 4% of rivers impaired and over 86% of all river mileage assessed.
The TurfMutt Foundation Shares Four Ways Community Parks Benefit People & the Planet
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — For 15 years, the TurfMutt Foundation has advocated for the care and use of parks, yards and other green spaces. Neighborhood parks are community connectors, and they offer a place for city dwellers and those without their own at-home green spaces to practice the art of backyarding – taking every day activities typically done inside, outside.
“Mulligan the TurfMutt and I love spending time in our community park where we can meet up with our neighbors, connect with nature, and visit the dog park for some off-leash fun,” said Kris Kiser, President & CEO of the TurfMutt Foundation. “The benefits of green space are undeniable, and it starts in our own parks and backyards.”
In celebration of National Park & Recreation Month, the TurfMutt Foundation shares these “superpowers” of parks:
Promotes Physical Health
Access to neighborhood parks and green space is linked to higher activity levels in children in Norway. Researchers also found that people living near green spaces, including parks or forests, age slower than those in dense urban environments. Visits to parks, community gardens, and other urban green spaces may lower city dwellers’ use of prescription drugs for anxiety, insomnia, depression, high blood pressure, and asthma. Children aged four to six living near parks, gardens, or fields have increased bone density, according to a study conducted in Belgium.
Boosts Mental Well-being
A study of more than 8,000-middle aged and older adults in China concluded that the greenness and proportion of public parks was related to a reduced risk of loneliness. People who visited urban parks for just 21 minutes showed a reduction in cortisol (stress hormone) levels and reported increased overall well-being. Mental health and youth development programs held at parks in Florida for at-risk youth were shown to have the potential to prevent violence among the kids. A longitudinal study of a park prescription program for low-income families found that increased visits to neighborhood parks significantly increased children’s resilience while decreasing their stress levels.
Creates Wildlife Corridors
Community parks combine with the green space in our backyards and other verdant community areas to create wildlife corridors that link together fragmented habitats. Urban parks can also increase biodiversity. For instance, researchers found that birds rely on both public parks and private backyards in different seasons and for different reasons. Parks had a higher biodiversity in the summer and housed more ecologically rare species. Backyards had a higher bird abundance in the winter, as well as more urban-tolerant species and more resident generalist species.
Cools Heat Islands
Surrey’s Global Center for Clean Air Research in the UK quantified the effect of green space on cooling urban areas. According to research: botanic gardens are 41 degrees cooler than their surroundings, green walls are 39 degrees cooler, parks are 38 degrees cooler and playgrounds are 37 degrees cooler. The bigger the green space, the bigger the benefits, and linked green spaces compound the cooling effects. Large parks or tracts of urban trees can cool daytime summer temperatures by about 10 degrees. Shaded ground can be up to 36 degrees cooler than unshaded ground.
Upstate Forever announces the Generations Campaign
UPSTATE S.C. — Upstate Forever has unveiled Generations, a campaign to fund the 501(c)3 nonprofit organization’s work to protect the region’s critical lands, waters, and unique character for the years to come.
Through the Generations Campaign, the organization is working to secure $7 million to safeguard the Upstate’s natural resources as the region experiences significant growth and development.
“The Generations Campaign is an investment in the Upstate,” said Aldon Knight, who recently assumed the role of Executive Director for Upstate Forever. “It will ensure our region is a wonderful place to live, work, and play ten, twenty, even fifty years from now. I want future generations to be able to experience the places that make this corner of the world so special — our mountains, meadows, forests, rivers, and farms.”
The impetus behind the Generations Campaign
More and more people are being drawn to the Upstate’s natural environment and livability. While this growth can have benefits if managed appropriately, the sprawling development that accompanies it is putting more and more pressure on our natural resources.
According to the Shaping Our Future study, the population of the Upstate will increase by more than 320,000 people between 2015-2040 — most to the Greenville/Spartanburg area. If we don’t change course, that could mean consuming 588,672 more acres during the same time period. That works out to roughly 64.5 acres per day: an area equal to the size of Haywood Mall, including all its parking lots.
“Once you fill in land with asphalt, you can’t go back,” said John Keith, chair of Upstate Forever’s board of directors. “If we don’t want to become the new Charlotte or the new Atlanta, we’ve all got to get on board. We’ve got to safeguard our water, protect our natural environments, and preserve our green spaces so that our children and grandchildren will still be able to enjoy them.”
“We can’t change the fact that growth and development are coming to the Upstate,” said Knight. “What is within our power is how we plan for it right now, while we still have time and choices left. With the right approach, we can manage the coming growth more wisely and balance it with protection of our land and water resources.”
The Generations Campaign will fund Upstate Forever’s strategic goals through 2027
Through the Generations Campaign, Upstate Forever aims to secure $7 million to meet the challenges Upstate South Carolina is facing, amplify the organization’s impact, and accelerate protections for the region’s lands and waters in the years ahead. The funds raised will go towards three key initiatives, identified by the organization as its primary strategic goals from 2023-2027:
•Broadening and deepening core land protection efforts to reach a milestone of 50,000 acres protected through UF conservation easements and collaborative partner projects.
•Advocating for policies that support balanced growth and conservation at the municipal, regional, and state level, and increasing funding for conservation across the Upstate.
•Reaching more residents—especially younger residents and people of color—and equipping them with the tools they need to protect the places they love.
Everything Outdoor Fest
SIMPSONVILLE – Everything Outdoor Fest returns November 2-3 to Historic Hopkins Farm in Simpsonville. Presented by Prisma Health Roger C. Peace Rehabilitation Hospital, the 2024 Fest will showcase family-friendly outdoor activities with workshops, exhibits, demos, food, and entertainment.
Festival goers can enjoy the natural beauty of the historic farm with kayak and paddleboard clinics in the pond, yoga classes at the covered pavilion, running and biking on the woodland trails and roadways – and much more. Opportunities abound to test out sports equipment, learn new skills, and participate in hands-on activities.
“We’re thrilled to be working with Roger C. Peace Rehabilitation Hospital to highlight some of the adaptive sports available for people with injuries. We want to ensure the outdoors is an accessible reality for everyone,” says Everything Outdoor Fest Founder and President Jacqui McGuinness. “Since our inaugural event in 2022, we have been busy obtaining nonprofit status to support Everything Outdoor Fest’s mission of showcasing the beauty and diversity of South Carolina’s natural resources and promoting health and wellness through outdoor recreation and education. We want people to get hooked on the outdoors for life!”
Everything Outdoor Fest will welcome new elements, including disc golf, adaptive sports, and a conservation village to educate people on the importance of protecting our natural resources. Many favorite activities from the 2022 festival will be back like archery, dog trails, RunIn/HOKA run, Rocket Revolution bike ride, camping skills, fishing demos, healthy cooking, kids zone, and slacklining. Experts like Bass Pro Shops and REI Co-op will offer outdoor education programs. The music stage sponsored by Greenville Water will feature the soulful voice of Darby Wilcox and many other talented musicians.
Tickets will be pre-sold online. Single-day tickets are $12 for adults and weekend passes are $20 with discounted rates for children, military, and seniors. Visit EverythingOutdoorFest.com for tickets and to sign up for the festival newsletter with updates on the latest activities. Event announcements are also available on social media @everythingoutdoorfest.
“As a new nonprofit, we are busy raising money to sustain this important event and are seeking corporate sponsors and individual donors. We’re grateful for a community that recognizes and appreciates the positive impact outdoor recreation has on our quality of life. Individuals, companies, or organizations who want to join us in our mission as Friends of the Fest, donating $1,000 or more, will be added to our website and participate in special promotions. Sponsorships are also available and range from $2,500-$10,000. Any donation is helpful and will go towards great education and experiences, and festival tickets for underserved communities,” says McGuinness.
Everything Outdoor Fest sponsors currently include Prisma Health Roger C. Peace Rehabilitation Hospital, Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina, BF Goodrich Tires, Greenville Water, Winnebago, Community Journals, Ember Glow Outdoor Resort, Indexx Printing, Kentwool, Mast General Store, Run In/HOKA, Salty Frye’s Golf Carts, Seamon Whiteside, South Carolina Federal Credit Union, South State, Subaru of Spartanburg, Torque Wheels, and Webb Development.
For details on supporting Everything Outdoor Fest, contact event director Caroline Warthan at 864-616-0073 or email Caroline@jbmshows.com. Donations can be made at EverythingOutdoorFest.com/donate/.
Interested exhibitors, including businesses and organizations, may apply online at everythingoutdoorfest.com/exhibitors-application/ or contact Chelsea@JBMshows.com.
Everything Outdoor Fest is a production of JBM & Associates, producers of many of the Southeast region’s largest and most popular consumer boat shows, including The Charleston Boat Show, Savannah Boat Show, Columbia Boat Show, and Wilmington Boat Show. For information, visit JBMshows.com.
http://www.lctrails.org
https://lcwsc.com/services/lake-rabon/
https://growlaurenscounty.com/living-here/recreation/
https://palmettoconservation.org/palmetto-trail/
