Friday, May 20, 2016

"We All Live Downstream" Isn't Just a Catchphrase

We All Live Downstream" is a phrase that we at Bass Pro take very seriously as evidenced by the conservation efforts the company has been part of for a very long, long time.  Our founder realized that we need to take care of our habitats if we expect to have any fish or game to pursue in our future or our children’s future.  As the slogan says, “We all live downstream,” means that what we do in our neighborhoods can and does have a dramatic affect on the environment well away from the small space we live in.  Rain runoff carries fertilizers, pesticides, and other contaminants from cities like Orlando to water as far away as Jacksonville via the St. Johns River, or to the Lake Okeechobee and then the Everglades, St. Lucie River, or Caloosahatchee River, via the Kissimmee River Basin.  We’re in a unique geographic location that can and does have an impact on environments vast distances from our homes. 
 
Florida is having a great deal of trouble right now and there are a lot of people trying to bring attention to the problems, and force the powers that be to come up with timely and effective solutions.  Whether its the Everglades, Charlotte Harbor, St. Lucie River, Lake Okeechobee, or the Indian River Lagoon, we’ve got problems related to environmental and man-made issues that have been causing fish kills, algae blooms, and potentially dangerous conditions for people that spend time in the regions water ways.  Here are a few local groups trying to bring attention to the issues.
Save Our Lagoon     No Fill No Kill     Captains for Clean Water 
CCa Florida     Bonefish Tarpon Trust     Take Back Our Water

I encourage everyone to research these organizations and try to do your part.  I know it can be hard when life gets in the way of attending meetings and waterway cleanups but it really will make a difference in Tallahassee and Washington when they see the level of community involvement and concern.  Do it for the future generations if not for yourselves.  Demand that the state and federal governments follow through with their promises and respect the will of the voters (especially with regards to 2014 Amendment 1 and the purchase of conservation land).  Changes won’t happen overnight but messing things up didn’t happen in the blink of an eye either.

 
Brian “Beastman” Eastman
White River Fly Shop


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