LaGrange County Lakes Council
To promote, protect and preserve the quality of the lakes and watersheds of LaGrange County
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May 2006 report by the LaGrange County Lakes Council Inc. and the Steuben County Lakes Council Inc. Jacquie Colburn defined carrying capacity as, “the amount of development and activity a body of water can handle before it starts to deteriorate." The question of carrying capacity is social in nature and may be the perception of overcrowding by too many boats, too many fast boats or a reduction in safety on a body of water. A joint committee from the two county lakes councils released their 26-page report on lake carrying capacity in May 2006. Based on both the literature sources and its own sampling work, the committee concluded that the lakes studied (Lake Gage and Lake James) exceed their carrying capacity on most, if not all, summer weekends. This overuse of some lakes in both counties is degrading the safety and enjoyment of our lakes. The literature on lake carrying capacity is clear that there is no easy way to address the issue of carrying capacity. The committee recommends further study to make lake-specific determinations of carrying capacity. The results could be used for planning, policy and legislative action. A volunteer group is forming now to conduct more studies on lake carrying capacity and its environmental effects. If you’re interested in volunteering your time and effort, please contact the Lakes Council. Download the full 26-page report. |
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