“Perhaps the truth depends on a walk around the lake#.” In this case it does - kudos, Mr. Wallace Stevens. The truth, in this instance, is water quality. Residents who are involved ankle deep, or waist deep (literally) in monitoring Owasco Lake#'s water quality understand that it takes more than sitting back and relaxing to keep our lake clean.

With such recent turmoil over a lake inspector and phosphorus dumping, it should come as no surprise to hear whispers about water quality growing louder.

And indeed, it's about time. Dedicated groups, such as the Owasco Watershed Lake Association (OWLA) have taken initial steps in water quality control.

OWLA is a citizen-based group responsible for quality management of numerous matters within the Owasco watershed.

Members of this organization have made their faces known throughout the communities and the political realm, stating their mission to protect the lake as best they can.

One of their current projects, actually a continuation of what has been done for the past few years, is calling upon the public to monitor their own lake property.

Residents all around Owasco Lake have volunteered to collect water samples for OWLA this year.

The samples are taken every other week by the individual from their own property, then collected by a volunteer, and delivered to the lab.

The sample is tested for coliform bacteria. Its presence is an indicator of fecal waste and in instances has caused dysentery, hepatitis, typhoid fever, cholera and other illnesses.

Don#'t panic - it#'s unnecessary to stock up on Poland Springs and put the lake house up for sale. Coliform bacteria can be harmless, but it serves as an indicator for other pathogenic bacteria in the water.

So, the age old question- one that must be answered carefully in order preserve the cause: What#'s in it for me?

If you#'re an Owasco Lake resident, or if you even enjoy the lake a little bit, this should be rather simple. Clean water is better, and safer than dirty water.

A healthy lake is good for the environment, residents, tourists and the economy.

The important thing is, there are people on every shore of Owasco Lake willing to do this sampling, which will provide invaluable data.

This indication of public interest is reassuring, but the figures are out there and they have been in the past.

If the present maintains itself, as Fred L. Emerson we could be looking forward to a long future nestled among the hills beside a #“gem amongst gems#.”

Alexa Weigel-Krause is an AmeriCorps environmental education assistant at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County