Simon family receives LakeSmart designation

The China Lake Association is delighted to announce that Irma Simon’s family property on China Lake has just won the coveted LakeSmart Award for their lake-friendly management that protects our lake from harmful stormwater runoff.  Irma’s family has enjoyed their camp since around 1927.  She remembers that as a child, her parents brought her and her three older sisters from early June until mid-September to spend their summers at the lake. She also remembers that before the week of rain in 1983, China Lake was clear, but that after the rain, it turned green.

Irma Simon, left, receives the LakeSmart designation on behalf of her family from Marie Michaud, LakeSmart program team leader. Contributed photo

Her family has always kept a deep and varied stand of vegetation along the lake’s edge. This “buffer” is the most effective tool for keeping phosphorus and other harmful pollutants from entering our lake and stimulating algae growth. Ninety percent  of what goes into a lake stays in a lake! The Simons also keep the mower blade no lower than 3 inches. Why? Because the root system is only as deep as the blade of grass is tall. The longer the roots, the more protection we give to the lake from erosion and pollution leaching through soil to lake water.

Thank you, Irma and your family, for your LakeSmart Practices! Display your signs proudly!

Submitted by The China Lake Association LakeSmart Program, Marie Michaud Team Leader.