Keep Our Lake Beautiful

Ella Miars is a freelance writer for Drift Magazine and a seventh grade student at O. Henry Middle School. She is passionate about Austin and the environment.

Introduction

When people think of Austin, a few things come to mind, like live music, outdoor activities, and, of course, Lady Bird Lake. Lady Bird Lake is a big part of Austin because it brings our community together. It  is used for recreation like swimming, fishing, paddleboarding, and boating. It is also used for flood control and stormwater retention. Every time I go to the trail for a bike ride with my Mom or a run with my Dad, I notice all the trash and it seems to be getting worse rather than improving. Because of all the uses of Lady Bird Lake, pollutants and trash have become a big problem. Lady Bird Lake does so much for the community, it’s time the community does something for Lady Bird Lake.

Ever since I was little, I have been in love with nature and everything it has to offer. 

I remember the first time I noticed the trash in Lady Bird Lake. I was six years old, and my mom and I were walking our dog. I remember veering off the trail down towards the water, and that's when I saw it: a can floating on the top of the lake, and next to it a plastic bag. Then, as I looked down the side of the lake, the trash seemed to go on forever. It was everywhere. That's when I knew somehow I wanted to fix it. As a six year old, I recognized the trash in our lake, and now I'm trying to help you do the same.

Trash In Our Lake

Human activity has turned our once beautiful lake into a dumping ground for trash. On any given day, walking, running, or biking the trail, you can see everything from water bottles and styrofoam cups to plastic bags, food wrappers, and clothing. Sometimes you can find a car tire and a scooter or two. All this isn’t just ugly to see, it also has a large impact on anyone who uses the lake. 

An algae called cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, has been measured in Lady Bird Lake since 2019. Since then, the algae has worsened, causing an increase of cyanotoxins in the lake. This algae has worsened due to all the trash thrown into the lake. Cyanotoxins are toxic compounds produced by some cyanobacteria that cause health risks to humans and animals. You may ask, how does trash create cyanotoxins? Trash introduces certain nutrients, such as phosphorus and nitrogen, into the lake, feeding the algae. When we think of something blooming, we often visualize a beautiful bouquet of flowers, but when this algae blooms, it’s anything but beautiful. It’s harmful.

Cyanotoxins can cause skin irritation and damage to the liver and kidneys. If you have lived in Austin for a long enough time, you have heard the warnings to not let your dog or yourself swim in the lake. This is due to high levels of cyanotoxins. 

This is harmful to humans and pets, but it is also harmful to the aquatic life in our lake. They can experience organ damage, reproductive issues, as well as death. When I first learned about these dangers, my annoyance at the trash turned into sadness and anger. We have a dog named Luna, and this danger affects her and her enjoyment of the lake. Now we need to be careful when we take her to the trail. 

Where The Trash Comes From

If someone asked you where all the trash in our lake came from, it seems like it would be an easy answer. Trash is made from people, so it must come from people. But it turns out it's a little more complicated. Yes, people need to be more mindful of how they dispose of their trash, but trash can accumulate in our lake for more reasons than one. Heavy rainstorms, floods, and other natural causes can move trash into our lake. Trash can be brought down from upstream from other towns and cities. Because of this, it can make it extremely difficult to keep our lake clean. This is why being aware of this situation helps local residents keep our lake as healthy as possible.

The Ultimate Goal

Over the years, volunteer groups such as Trail Conservancy and Keep Austin Beautiful have worked to clean up the trash in our lake. If you are interested in helping clean up Lady Bird Lake, you can volunteer with Keep Austin Beautiful and sign up for one of their monthly Lake Clean Up events. The lake brings the Austin community together in many ways. My goal is to inspire people to care about the environment as much as I do, and for everyone to help keep the lake beautiful forever. I hope you're one of those people.

*Cover photo credit to Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine