A Valentine, February 2018

Oh, to be for our fresh mountain waters of Lake Adger and its Green River

For water is a portal to & from God and gives us the richness of life

Your gifts are generous, as they flow from your waterways into our heads, straight through our hearts and out into our hands

We swim, boat, paddle, fish, paint, pray, play, write, build our homes on your shores, and pursued regional plans to drink of you…. Water our crops, convert your power into hydroelectric and cool off our hot downstream power plants. Local cement, creamery factories and the world renowned TIEC depend on your supply.

You inspire us, provide for us and restore us for almost one hundred years

Oh, but for all this love shown to us, we have just taken these God gifts for granted, giving back little.

Water gives freely its nature, our living worlds thrive from it, LA/GR waters are for us and yet we withhold our vital care and stewardship. It has been our water culture to close our eyes, minds and hearts to its needs, hoping another will see its value and just take care of it, like an orphaned child

Calling on all Polk County hearts, heads and hands to finally show true love, care and vision back to this old lake and dam. Lake Adger remains our diamond in the rough so let’s lean into it and do the work to make it shine

It is said that; “A man who works with his hands is a laborer; a man who works with his hands and his brain is a craftsman; but a man who works with his hands and his brain and his heart is an artist” (Louis Nizer & St. Francis of Assisi).

Oh, that we were ‘artists’ caring earnestly for our waters; out of our heads- hands and through our hearts would be flowing intentional loving waterworks and efforts toward creative solutions

For the Love of Lake Adger and Green River….Our waters need a Watershed Supply Management Plan with a certified County Lake Adger Manager to oversee it. Our 93 yr. old deteriorating Turner Shoals Dam needs a safe and adequate restoration Action Plan implemented already. Our potential partners need a platform to enter by establishing a Polk County Water Resource Advisory Board. Engaging the help of SCORE, PC S&WCD, Polk’s Planning Board, Recreation Advisory Board, Conserving Carolinas, Mountain True, Creation Care Alliance, local fishermen, Muskie Club, LAHOA, local churches, State and Wildlife agencies, would be for our waters sake!

– by Sky Conard