Committee seeks solutions to pollution
Posted on Wednesday, May 14, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/bvwv/News/6352/
Stormwater runoff can be a major cause of pollution, and a local group is set to begin educating the public on ways to decrease its impact.
The Property Owners Association’s Environmental Committee plans to have a report ready in the next couple of months to present to local civic groups, organizations and the public in general.
The recent storm events of this spring — including the six to eight inches of rain Bella Vista received April 10 which damaged roads, ditches, bridges and private property — drives home the need to educate residents on the ill-effects of runoff.
“ Residential runoff is the single most important nonpoint source of pollution, ” said John Ciambrone, committee chairman, at the group’s April 30 meeting. “ Still, our lakes are among the cleanest around. It’s more about preventing future problems. ”
A part of their recommendations will be to encourage lake-front property owners to create a vegetative buffer, which helps filter nutrients from runoff. A building trend in Bella Vista is the clearing of all trees and other vegetation on lots, providing no barrier between the lakes and stormwater.
Vegetative buffers were also recommended by AW Research of Minnesota, a company the POA hired to perform a low-level flyover of each lake, recording hyperspectral images to determine any possible sources of contamination.
AW’s report identified 202 sites on Bella Vista’s seven lakes with sources of runoff and 562 sites with inadequate vegetative buffers.
Giving the public sensible and simple recommendations to preventing stormwater runoff is the key to getting residents involved, said Evelyn Espe, committee secretary.
“ You need to give people easy solutions, ” she said.