Local 5 News at 10 [Video]

HERE IN MAINE WE ARE KNOWN FOR OUR MOUNTAINS, COASTLINE AND BEAUTIFUL SCENERY BUT ALSO FOR OUR LAKES AND PONDS. NOW UNPRECEDENTED CLIMATE IMPACTS ARE DRIVING LAWMAKERS TO TAKE THE FUTURE HEALTH OF MAINE LAKES A PRIORITY. METEOROLOGIST VICTORIA WISNIEWSKI HAS THE DETAILS. IN- MAINE HAS OVER 6000 LAKES AND PONDS; LAST MONTH GOVERNOR MILLS SIGNED A PROCLAMATION TO CREATE MORE DIVERSE SUPPORT FOR LAKE AROUND THE STATE, BY MAKING JULY- LAKE APPRECIATION MONTH IN MAINE. VO - MAINE'S LAKES AND PONDS ARE OUR MOST IMPORTANT NATURAL RESOURCES FOR BOTH RESIDENTS AND VISITORS; PROVIDING ACCESS TO 380,000 LICENSED FRESHWATER FISHERMEN AND OVER 112,000 BOATERS. MAINE LAKES ALSO PROVIDE MORE THAN HALF OF MAINERS WITH DRINKING WATER, AND THEY ACT AS VITAL HABITAT FOR MORE THAN 70 PERCENT OF OUR WILDLIFE SPECIES. SOT 00;01;21;26 - 00;01;45;22 UNKNOWN " THERE'S LOOMING THREATS THAT ARE JUST GROWING ALL THE TIME, A LOT OF THEM RELATED TO CLIMATE CHANGE." I SPOKE TO SUSAN GALLO ANOTHER VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY IS TO BECOME A COURTESY BOAT INSPECTION AGAIN. 00;08;58;07 - 00;09;21;05 SUSAN GALLO "WE TRY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO GET HAVE BOATS INSPECTED BEFORE THEY GO IN THE WATER. SO THERE'S ACTUALLY PEOPLE HERE AND THEY WILL LOOK YOUR BOAT OVER, LOOK FOR PLANT MATERIALS, REMOVE ANY PLANT MATERIALS THEY FIND, WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT." 00;11;28;10 - 00;11;53;24 SUSAN GALLO " ANOTHER GREAT WAY TO GET INVOLVED IS IF YOU'RE NOT A BOAT OR AN ANGLER AND YOU WANT TO TAKE ACTION, IS TO BECOME A LAKE ADVOCATE." 00;10;57;23 - 00;11;28;08 SUSAN GALLO "IF YOU'RE PICNICKING, YOU KNOW, KEEP YOUR FOOD SCRAPS IN THE BOAT. YOU DON'T WANT THOSE GOING INTO THE LAKE." "BEING AWARE OF OTHER BOATERS, BEING SAFE, BEING AWARE OF BOATERS AROUND YOU, PADDLEBOARDERS SWIMMERS, ALL THAT KIND OF THING IS A GREAT THING THAT BOATERS CAN DO." OUT- ACCORDING TO A RECENT STUDY BY THE UNIVERSITY OF MAINE, OUR LAKES PROVIDE APPROXIMATELY $13 BILLION ANNUALLY TO OUR ECONOMY ANNUALLY. LAKES IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR MAINERS AND LAKE EFFORTS ARE IMPORTANT TO PRESERVE THEM FOR YEARS TO COME. AT SEBEG

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