By Steve Weisman

(photo by David Thoreson)
#2-Aerial photo of  West Okoboji’s beauty from Pikes Point and south down the lake. This photo captures just why we can’t ever give up in trying to protect our waters.

As a former teacher and coach, I’ve always liked motivational speakers and quotes that challenge us to do better and to “reach for the stars.” There are a lot of great ones out there, but there is one that still gives me goose bumps. This one belongs to the inspirational message by the late Jim Valvano.

The year was 1993 and the evening of the annual Espy Awards. The words came from Valvano, the former North Carolina State men’s basketball coach. Terminally ill with bone cancer, Valvano shared with the audience just how much he cherished and relished life and how much he wished that everybody could do the same. The entire speech was awesome, and there are so many moving parts, but these are the words that moved me the most. Valvano said…

“We should do three things every day of our lives:

• Number one, laugh. You should laugh every day.
• Number two is think. You should spend some time in thought.
• Number three is that you should have your emotions moved to tears.”

How powerful is that? It’s really about being ALIVE and LIVING life, no matter the cards we are dealt. It’s not about being fair; no, it’s about living life to the fullest and making the most of our opportunities. Then Valvano ended his speech with these seven words of encouragement that I think of every day…”Don’t give up! Don’t ever give up!” No matter our age or our calling in life, following Valvano’s advice can help make us all that much better! We need to take life and run with it!

Relating to our lakes: never give up

As I look at our battle to protect Iowa’s lakes and rivers. I encourage all of us to remember Valvano’s words. Yes, we have seen unwanted exotics get in our lakes. We dodged the bullet so to speak with the Asian carp threat, and the electric fish barrier effectively stopped their entrance.

Of course, our fight against zebra mussels has not been as successful. First discovered in 2012, they have expanded to be along most shorelines in East Okoboji, West Okoboji, Upper and Lower Gar, Lake Minnewashta and Big Spirit Lake.

Of course, we have also been hit with curly leaf pondweed, and most recently Eurasian watermilfoil and brittle naiad. At times, I almost give up. When will it stop? Probably never, BUT we cannot just throw in the towel. Valvano’s words echo in my mind, “Don’t give up! Don’t ever give up!”

In this time of frustration, I remember the words of Fisheries Biologist Mike Hawkins who has worked so diligently to improve and protect our lakes. These were his words of wisdom at the time that Zebra mussels appeared. “Zebra mussels will impact our lakes, but they will not ‘ruin’ our lakes. Recreation, fishing, and the natural environment will not collapse, and our lakes will continue on. I believe this is an important consideration as we face a problem that does not have a clear solution. Zebra mussels are here to stay; at least until a breakthrough is found, and we must continue working on other critical but related issues.” His words were spot on!

His next words are now part of my rally cry! “Studies from around the world have shown the impacts of invaders can be mitigated by maintaining healthy native plant and animal populations and protecting water quality. Our community’s efforts to reduce sediment and nutrients entering the lakes, protect shorelines from erosion and over-development, and enhance aquatic habitat are all critical in our long-term battle against zebra mussels and other aquatic invaders. It makes sense that a healthy lake ecosystem is more resilient to an invader.”

At the same time, efforts to stop or slow the spread of other invading exotics are paramount. I encourage all of us living here in the Iowa Great Lakes and those that visit or reside here in the summer to become part of the solution. Individually, we need to follow the simple message: clean, drain and dry. We do that and exotic hitch hikers will not get into our waters. It’s so simple, yet so many people seem to be totally oblivious of this.

Join others

That old adage, there’s power in numbers, works here. Throughout the state of Iowa, there are lake protective associations that have as their mission to improve the quality of their local water bodies. Working as a unified group, they can have a unified, profound impact.

Here in the Iowa Great Lakes, we have several options: The Okoboji Protective Association, The Spirit Lake Protective Association, the East Okoboji Lakes Improvement Corporation, Center Lake Improvement and Preservation, the Iowa Great Lakes Association and the Silver Lake Improvement Association. Although their names might reflect a specific lake, when a huge issue arises that affects the entire Iowa Great Lakes, they all come together as one! Again, power in numbers equal a good fighting chance. Join one of the many protective and environmental organizations that work so diligently to protect our resources. It is gratifying when a huge project comes to fruition.

At the same time in this area, there are other organizations that will team up with these protective associations: The Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, the Iowa Environmental Council, Dickinson County Clean Water Alliance, Ducks Unlimited and Pheasants Forever.

No matter the area of the state that you live, there are nonprofit groups and organizations  with the goal to protect Iowa’s water bodies!

As we move into 2024, I hope we can all work together to protect and enhance our area lakes. Above all, remember Valvano’s words, “Don’t give up! Don’t ever give up!”