[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Page 11478]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    NATIONAL LAKE APPRECIATION MONTH

  Mr. CARDIN. Madam President, July is National Lake Appreciation 
Month. This nationwide initiative is sponsored by the North American 
Lake Management Society, a non-profit organization focused on making 
partnerships between citizens, scientists, and professionals to protect 
our Nation's lakes and reservoirs. National Lake Appreciation Month 
began in 2012 as a way to encourage us to explore and enjoy America's 
many beautiful lakes, as well as increase efforts to clean and protect 
them.
  In addition to recreational uses such as boating, fishing, and 
swimming, lakes provide a variety of environmental and health benefits. 
They absorb rainfall and runoff from land, help prevent floods, provide 
drinking water, regulate the climate, and provide homes for precious 
wildlife. The Environmental Protection Agency's National Lake 
Assessment, conducted in 2007 and again in 2012, revealed that many of 
our lakes are imperiled due to poor nearshore habitat, too many 
nutrients, invasive plants and animals, and other threats. By 
protecting the health of our lakes, we defend the vitality of the 
animals and plants that depend on them and ensure that we can enjoy 
them for years to come.
  This year, Maryland has joined 23 other States in celebrating 
National Lake Appreciation Month and in affirming the importance of 
lakes for our drinking water, energy production, food production, and 
recreational value. Maryland boasts 60 large lakes over 5 acres in 
size, and over 100 lakes in total. We use these lakes for fishing, 
boating, and other outdoor recreation, as well as for energy. For 
example, Deep Creek Lake, our largest inland lake in Maryland, consists 
of 65 miles of shoreline, 18 species of fish, and a wide variety of 
other animal and plant species, some of which are endangered. The lake 
also powers the Deep Creek Hydroelectric Power Plant, which provides 
energy not only to Maryland, but also to communities in Pennsylvania 
and New Jersey. So far we have been able to keep this and other 
Maryland lakes healthy. In a recent test, it was found that Deep Creek 
Lake's water clarity was still at a level similar to that of 1957. As 
factors such as pollutants and runoff increasingly threaten the health 
of our lakes, it is important that we continue to work to fight against 
them.
  I am pleased to celebrate National Lake Appreciation Month, to 
encourage people both to enjoy America's beautiful lakes, and to do 
their part to keep them clean and healthy. Lakes are a very important 
part of our ecosystem in Maryland. We must continue to increase our 
efforts to care for our lakes and show our appreciation for all that 
they provide us.

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