Upside/Downside

The Upside Downside of the Blue Lakes Program

Below are a list of potential scenarios you may encounter that may help you decide whether or not to participate in the Blue Lakes program: 

I. My lake is pristine and has no known development pressures, what is the benefit of my involvement in the Blue Lakes program? 

Participating in the Blue Lakes program can potentially help:

1. Build a baseline of knowledge and information regarding lake health and stewardship
2. Build a community by participating in a program that can bring people together for a common cause
3. Build awareness and capacity to manage future threats and change
4. Provides a road map and tool kit that gives you new and exciting activities and resources that will maintain and enhance the quality of your community and your lake
5. Maintain the value of your lake and waterfront properties

II. My lake is experiencing new development proposals and we want to make sure this happens with the least impact to the environment and in accordance with legislation. How will the Blue Lakes program help to ensure educated, sustainable development? 

Participating in the Blue Lakes program can potentially help:

1. Provide a collective platform to speak with a unified voice
2. Provide leverage for aligning local governments in support of lake quality and health
3. Provide comprehensive and objective data and information related to your lake
4. Provide best practices
5. Provides access to a broader community

III. My lake is overdeveloped with social crowding and little sense of community. How will the Blue Lakes program combat this? 

Participating in the Blue Lakes program can potentially help:

1. Cultivate a foundation of practice with common goals
2. Create a public statement of stewardship practices thereby inspiring, influencing and eventually supporting the maintenance of property values
3. Promote good behaviour and reconnect community members with nature
4. Provide groups or organizations with a starting point to address both social and environmental issues
5. Provide a template from which to grow

IV. My lake is experiencing Algal blooms, how will Blue Lakes be of benefit in this scenario?:

Participating in the Blue Lakes program can potentially help:

1. Gather people in common practice to respond to and manage environmental challenges
2. Assist lake communities in managing water quality and lake health issues (algae blooms, aquatic plants, lighting, safe boating, etc.)
3. Leverage support in combating issues
4. Create a community and public statement of practice thereby supporting the maintenance of property values
5. Create standards and best practices to help improve conditions