Lake Blitz Volunteer Spotlight: Linda Anderson
The Lake Blitz Volunteer Spotlight series gives us the opportunity to show appreciation for our remarkable Lake Blitz volunteers. From B.C. to Nova Scotia, 340 volunteers are helping create a snapshot of lake health from May to September 2022 by collecting temperature readings and taking photos of the lake(s) they’ve decided to monitor for climate impacts. Linda Anderson, who volunteered to monitor a lake in Ontario, is the next volunteer up in this series!
Q – What lake(s) are you monitoring?
A – I’m monitoring Lake Simcoe in Ontario.
Q – What is your background?
A – My background is in education and I’ve also been a program coordinator for YMCA outdoor camps. My passion is canoeing.
Q – Is this your first time volunteering for the National Lake Blitz?
A – Yes, it’s been an interesting experience.
Q – Why do you think water monitoring is important?
A – I feel water monitoring is very important to bring awareness to lake health across Canada.
Q – What concerns you most about the future health of freshwater lakes?
A – I am concerned by the lack of awareness around the impact that motorized vehicles, such boats and jet skis, have on lakes and the damage they cause.
Q – What is one thing everyone can do to protect their local lakes?
A – What everybody can do to improve our lake health is to exchange motorized boats for canoes, kayaks, paddleboats, and paddleboards. Lakes that have higher amounts of motorized boat activity experience more algae growth which affects water clarity. Air pollution from the exhaust also disturbs fish and wildlife habitat.
Q – Do you have a personal connection to your lake(s)?
A – My connection to Lake Simcoe is from years of taking my kids and now grandkids to the lake. But sadly this has ended for me now due to the pollution and the quality of the water. Most of the time the beaches are closed during the hot weather when it’s the ideal time to swim. This is very disturbing so now I seek out lakes with no motorized boats. It’s such a delight to see clear lake water.
Thank you Linda for drawing attention to the health of Lake Simcoe through your lake monitoring efforts!
Paddling Lucky Lake, ON in a canoe. Photo by Linda Anderson
