Document text
- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels October 1, 2004 Cleaner than we found it By Paul Kay Ashland Duck pond slogging, building, and studying, 3,000 hours worth, have been worthwhile by any measure. As we move into the next phase of improving the ponds, Ashland Parks will assume responsibility for design and operation. In the meantime we'll maintain and adjust the existing system to continue our learning, then pass that knowledge along. The main goal was to improve the quality of the duck pond water from stagnant, stinky murkiness to water that would be clear enough to see through, all the way to the bottom. We wanted the pond to stay clear and odor-free in all seasons. We didn't do everything we hoped, but I'm proud to say that we did accomplish an enormous amount: We cleaned the water, consistently improving the quality and sometimes making it clear enough to see the bottom. The natural filter, modeled from "Lake Restorer" technology, continues to do a wonderful job of removing the murk, sending clean water down the waterfall and back into the pond. The waterfall looks good enough to drink. No kidding, I've seen people drink it and I've tasted it. Even the Great Blue Heron is fishing the pond again. The water must be looking better from fifty feet up. We eliminated the foul odors. We eliminated the mosquitoes. We learned how to circulate water in a shallow pond, using little energy. We learned how to build floating, planted islands out of common stuff available from Ashland Hardware and the Grange Coop. We learned how to remove the "duck goo," toys, jewelry, etc. without draining the water. Then we put this valuable fertilizer, 5,000 gallons of it, on crops, converting the waste of one into the gold of another. Most significantly, together we contributed to the understanding between people and the remarkable relationships of nature. I was moved by more than a thousand conversations. You convinced me that our culture appreciates the inner workings of our commons. I enjoyed working with the folks at Ashland Parks. The workers, managers, and commissioners are all people of whom Ashlanders should be proud. They're not only dedicated to providing first-class services, they're willing to try new things and to include citizens like me and you in the process of improving our public spaces. They deserve accolades for helping to move natural water treatment technologies forward. Every week I receive emails and calls from people around the country who are interested in learning about what we've done here. I look forward to more projects that help us understand and advance the economic, social, and environmental benefits of ecological technology. Ashland Parks and Ocean Arks will always be welcomed as partners. We leave the pond cleaner than we found it. Paul Kay is a consultant and educator in the fields of agricultural irrigation and water remediation. DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams