There are conferences on water safety where speakers and presentations are made about these safety features or that technique, but so little if any conversation takes place about how to improve water quality. Some organizations focus only on flows. Some focus only on competition. Some on selling their training and brand to new paddlers, but nearly none focus anything on water quality.
Water borne illnesses are on the rise and have been since the 1970’s. Why? Are we living in a time when more people are exposed to more hazardous waste? Do they lead a careless life and choose not to follow safety protocols? If you try talking about a TMDL with people that have never spent time involved in government you probable get a blank stare. The clean water act is a vague concept to most people and a hindrance to business and industry.
I call on all involved in paddle sports to get educated about what it is you paddle on be that a lake, river or ocean and not just paddle gear. Call up your local ACA chapter, or the NSBC – National Safe Boating Council, The USCG – US Coast Guard, the Water Safety Congress and your local environmental agency and make them provide you with information about water quality. It’s only through direct action that we will start to see improvements to water quality. You should not fear for your life or limb because you went for a paddle be that on a class I or class V water because of something so small you can’t see it.
Be safe, wear your life jacket, appropriate clothing to your weather and water conditions and get to know what’s in your water.
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss6012a1.htm
http://www.epa.gov/lawsregs/laws/cwa.html
http://www.safeboatingcouncil.org/
http://www.watersafetycongress.org/
http://www.americanwhitewater.org/
http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Canoe-Kayak.aspx
http://www.canoekayak.ca/english
