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Location: KY | Enjoy
'Twas The Night Before Christmas, and All Through the Watershed
>
> by Rebecca Buerkett, editor, F. X. Browne, Inc.'s Lake and Watershed
> News,
> December 2003 (with apologies to Clement C. Moore*)
>
>
>
> 'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the watershed
> Not a creature was stirring, they'd all gone to bed
> The river was nestled all snug in her banks
> Not a sign of erosion, for this we give thanks
> To the citizens who spent their time planting the trees
> And the native wildflowers that attracted the bees
>
> When out near the lake there arose such a clatter
> A deer raised its head to see what was the matter
> It was merely a dog who barked to get loose
> Chasing away another pesky Canada goose.
> The lake, how it shimmered.
> The water, how clean.
> Its hypolimnion well-aerated
> Its IBI value a dream.
>
> When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
> But signs all around me of people who care.
> Shoreline homeowners who'd come to their senses
> Farmers ensuring their streambanks have fences.
> Well-maintained buffers all planted with trees
> Townships installing their own BMPs.
>
> Infiltration! Bioretention!
> Sand filters and more,
> To keep dirty stormwater
> From reaching the shore!
> With a staff gage in place at the monitoring station,
> And the permits acquired for wetland restoration.
> I marveled to myself, as I surveyed the scene
> Thank goodness for all who keep my watershed clean! |