We are all different despite our shared passion for trout and clean, cold rivers. Some of us have to strength and energy to wade deep, roll rocks, and muscle structure into place. Some of us have wallets heavy enough to flatten a spaniel. Some are active in lobbying on behalf of the Au Sable and other worthy environmental causes. Some of us are even Republicans. More of us sit quietly and wish for better times, less conflict with commercial canoes, less worry about polluted run-off, less concern with the impact of the National Guard. We want more and bigger trout, quiet days on the water, fewer people.
Wishing and hoping does no good at all. We cannot turn back the calendar to a day when our nation’s population was under 200 million. No prayer will remove jet skis, ORV’s, dirt bikes. Wishing will not reduce the devastating impact of the multi-thousands of recreational canoers, the storm water drainage, slick with oil and salt, that flows into our streams, the toxic propellant of countless artillery shells that poison our ground water.
Edward Abbey wrote a fine novel called The Monkey Wrench Gang. The book’s hero, a man named Heygood, fought the environmental fight with a coldblooded violence against the machinery of natural resource destruction. I would love to be like Heygood, but have an aversion to incarceration in a cold, dark cell.
In the 21st century we need to fight the battle against stupidity and the greed for money with wisdom and money.
The Anglers of the Au Sable have launched a major fund-raising effort. The Capital Campaign’s goal is to insure sufficient financial resources to safeguard the future, to raise the ante in a game that has the highest stakes imaginable -- clean air, clean water for wild creatures and for mankind.
We are all different, but we must do what we can. If we can roll rocks and pick up trash, we must do it. If we can write letters and call politicians, we must. If we can give money, we should acknowledge that blessing and do so.
Look in the mirror.
There will soon be a new editor of the Riverwatch. It has been my great honor to serve the Anglers in this capacity for the past few years and I hope you have suffered my efforts without too much pain. The future is murky but clear on one point -- the river needs us all and I will be there. Good luck to all. RWOL
© Copyright 2001, Bob Linsenman. All rights reserved. Last modified November 29, 2001