Attitudes and Perceptions Regarding Water Quality and
Community
Mimi Wagner, Iowa State University--Department of
Landscape Architecture
A. Introduction
The beliefs, attitudes and values of residents are accepted as an informal part of planned change in any community—whether it be locating a new soccer field or proposing changes for a longtime city park. Designers and resource planners also seek this information when contemplating landscape change—particularly when the changes may directly or indirectly affect people.
A critical goal of the Clear Lake Diagnostic / Feasibility Study was to develop both an
understanding of water quality conditions in the lake as well as strategies for
enhancing water quality conditions.
This research contributed to that goal by identifying the broad range of
beliefs, attitudes and values as they relate to water quality and the community
of Clear Lake. Water quality
researchers then used this understanding of community values to assemble
alternative strategies for water quality enhancement.
The goal of this research was not to quantify the
number of residents who hold various beliefs and values. This study gave an indication of what
residents value socially and behaviorally about the lake and how these values
are structured. The study also
indicated what elements they believe enrich their lives and how change in the
landscape has affected them.
B. Methods
This report serves as a summary of interviews conducted
during the 2000-2001 winter in and near Clear Lake. The land immediately
surrounding the lake edge was the primary focus of discussions. This research
included residents from Clear Lake’s urban area as well as its agricultural
watershed; it did not include significant representation from Ventura. As such, the conditions described are
limited to Clear Lake and its agricultural watershed.
Residents were selected to reflect a broad range of
experiences and connections with the lake and community. Income, gender, education, occupation and
years lived in the area were balanced.
Interviews were conducted individually using photographs of the area as
discussion points. The names of
residents interviewed, as well as interview transcripts, are confidential. Occasional excerpts from statements are
included in this report and are intended to serve as examples.
This research focused on four aspects: (1) residents relationship to Clear Lake as
a central element of the community, (2) organizational and social aspects of
Clear Lake, (3) perceptions of water quality and (4) a summary of community
needs, as they relate to the lake and water quality. Several suggestions for community action are included in the section,
“Appropriate Considerations for Future Action.” These suggestions were developed in response to needs, attitudes
and perceptions found in this investigation that are beyond the scope of the Diagnostic / Feasibility Study.
C. The Lake as a Central Element in the Community
Clear Lake is clearly the focal point of the
community and the region. It is an active element—changing and responding to
climate, season and management in very dynamic ways. Residents are watchful of
the lake and are very connected to its condition. Visual changes are watched in
great detail including water clarity, water level fluctuations, fish population
(size, diversity and quantity) and fish kills.
The lake is perceived as having shifted from being a
‘public’ lake in the past to being more ‘private’ today. Although public accesses and lands are
available for use, local residents sense a change in the lake’s availability
for those other than shoreline property owners. Fewer open, unbuilt sections of
shoreline have contributed to this perception.
1.
Attachment to the Lake. The term ‘attachment’
describes the relationship between people (or a person) and a place. Attachments to a place or object can be
strong or weak, positive or negative. Understanding attachments to landscape
elements, such as Clear Lake, illustrates a great deal about what the community
values and why they make the decisions they do.
Understanding local attachments was important in
this project because it can guide researchers and decision-makers in creating
alternatives to enhance water quality.
This guidance is important to consider so valuable elements of the place
or community aren’t unnecessarily disrupted or destroyed to meet water quality
objectives.
This research identified two types of attachment in
the Clear Lake community. The first
type, ‘Internal,’ relates to the quiet respect and admiration people have for
the lake. The second type, ‘External,’
is the connection residents make between the lake and the outside—visitors, for
example. Both are described in more
detail below.
a. Internal Attachment to the Lake. Clear Lake has strong personal importance to the community. Residents had a consistently solid
understanding of the geologic uniqueness of the lake and its watershed. They have a deep sense of pride for the
natural elements of the lake including the shoreline, the forested vegetation
surrounding the lake, its marshes and the watershed topography. There is a strong sense of reverence and
respect in maintaining the character of these elements—although many changes
have occurred over time.
This internal attachment represents a strong
emotional bond between people and the lake.
It is present among residents who use the lake regularly as well as
those that enjoy the lake only from a visual standpoint. The following anecdotes
illustrate this bond:
·
The
same public beaches and parks have been used for successive generations in
their family. Also, land—agricultural
and nonagricultural—and homes have remained in the same families for multiple
generations.
·
Sunrises
and sunsets across the lake are a valued event.
·
Residents
enjoy driving around the lake just to see the water. The visual ‘availability’ of the lake from surrounding roads is a
aspect that has changed greatly over the years as larger homes continue to
replace cottage-style homes.
·
Physical
closeness to the lake is highly valued—this is separate from wanting to use the
lake for a functional purpose such as fishing, swimming and boating.
·
Many
value the quiet, isolated public areas on the lake—particularly at times when
the visitor population isn’t high.
The respect and reverence observed for the visual
aspects of the lake are also present for cultural landmarks in the
community. These landmarks include
longtime businesses (such as the Ritz), the cottage-style of housing common in
the early to mid 1900’s and older specimen trees such as those in the city
park. When change occurs to
landmarks—either intentionally such as the replacement of cottages with new
homes, or unintentionally such as the fire at the Ritz—the community senses a
loss in its physical character.
Residents expressed a desire for the lake and the community to “be as in
their memory,”—realizing also that some changes are necessary, inevitable and
uncontrollable.
The lake is a sacred element internally to many people. Residents find value in both active use and a passive closeness. This internal form of attachment was found consistently through most interviews, however it is often a quietly held, personal reflection and value. This contrasts with the second form of attachment identified, External Attachment.
b. External Attachment to the Lake. Above and beyond the internal or personal importance of the lake,
residents also maintain a separate form of attachment or relationship to the
lake via the ‘external’ world—visitors and tourists to the lake and
community.
The Clear Lake community is largely organized around
tourism. Events and opportunities are
created to attract people to the water for purposes of economic
development. The elements of attraction
are often related to direct contact with the lake / water, such as boating,
fishing, snowmobiling, hunting and swimming.
The revenue generated by outside visitors to the lake region is
substantial, and the community realizes that they are able to maintain the
“physical-ness” and infrastructure they have as a result of these
revenues. As such, they have a strong
attachment to sustaining the attraction of visitors to the lake. Decisions
about change and development in the community include strong consideration of
the needs and desires of visitors and other active-users of the lake.
2.
Attachment Summary. Residents value both their
internal and external attachments to the lake.
A combination of these values guides decision-making about changes in
the community and the lake edge.
External attachments sometimes override the quieter, more personally
held internal attachments. The following examples illustrate the difficulty in
balancing the two.
·
Agricultural
land in the watershed has been converted to subdivisions to allow population
growth. This change compromises the rural character of the land residents
value.
·
It’s
more difficult to see the lake when driving around it, because the new houses
are so much larger than those they replace and views are more restricted. One
resident remarked, “Local people, like me, like to drive around the lake and
look at it. It needs to be accessible
for the people of Iowa.”
·
Fewer
lots and areas left undeveloped in the watershed.
·
The
sense that access to the lake is restricted for those not living on it—even the
boat launches at the street dead ends are rented out as boat slips.
·
Replacement
trees in the city park are trees that grow more quickly rather than the
slow-growing native species they replace.
·
Emergent
vegetation is removed for aesthetic reasons and boat access, even though
residents realize it is important for fish habitat.
Residents discussed many aspects of the community
and how decisions are made. Over and
over, they described it as a great place to live and work. Many residents of
the community choose to live in Clear Lake because it is where they want to
be—rather than because it is where their job is, for example. This strong connection to ‘place’ included
descriptions of the community as ‘a special place,’ and as having a ‘sense of
magic.’
1. Aspects of the Community. As commonly observed in Midwest communities,
residents perceive change in the social connection between the agricultural and
urban communities. The presence of
agriculture in the lake’s watershed is perceived as diminished as compared to
fifty years ago. Urban
growth—residential, commercial and industrial—has likely contributed to this
change in perception.
There is a sense of satisfaction with the community.
As one resident indicated, “People are pretty happy with the physical-ness of Clear
Lake.” Clear Lake has long favored continued growth and development as a means
to stabilize this physical infrastructure.
Some factions within the community are beginning to question the
long-standing belief that continued growth will always lead to prosperity. There is concern that the community may
reach a point where its size may actually be detrimental to the elements of the
community they value—such as a lack of traffic congestion, well-maintained
streets and infrastructure and the tight-knit social connections between
residents.
2. Working
Relationships Inside and Outside the Community. The
community leadership structure was described as fair and trustworthy, with a
history of making decisions that take into account many situations and individuals. Changes undertaken in the community were
described as being from the “bottom-up,” rather than “top-down.”
Clear Lake is a great example of a community that
takes action on its own when there is a need—rather than relying on
organizations outside of the community to do something for them. This long history of self-initiative is
evident at both the individual level and within organizations.
Residents perceive well-established and strong
working relationships with other communities, agencies and outside
organizations. There has not been a
strong history of dialogue with the community of Ventura—but residents
indicated they believe communication channels with Ventura are open and that
past joint efforts between the two communities have been successful.
The IDNR is seen as the overall decision-maker for
the lake. The community also believes that is has the ability to help shape
decisions made by IDNR regarding the lake. Residents interviewed perceived that
IDNR has been fair in their decisions and actions regarding the lake.
3.
Communications. All communities have the
ability to communicate information within them, although this ability ranges in
effectiveness. The structure for these communications is both formal (newspaper
and radio stations, for example) and informal (coffee shop discussions, public
meetings and working committees, for example).
The communication structure within Clear Lake appears incredibly well
functioning. The local press was credited for communicating current issues and
information about the lake. There is
also a very functional informal communications network, enabling information to
be passed between different groups of residents and neighborhoods. An example of this informal communication
structure is most obvious in the consistency of local knowledge pertaining to
the lake.
Residents acknowledge the somewhat large amount of
‘natural’ vegetation occurring in the watershed—marshes, unmanaged woodlands
and prairies. Most interviewed accepted
the aesthetic qualities of these landscapes—even though they wouldn’t want it
in their own yard—because they recognize its importance for wildlife habitat. These ‘natural’ areas were also valued for
the primitive, quiet experience they offer people.
5. Physical
Change in the Community. Residents indicated that a
large amount of change has occurred in the physical nature of the landscape
over the past fifty years. Individual
property owners along the lakeshore have made a majority of the changes
discussed in the interviews. Examples
of these changes include the following,
·
Demolition
of cottage-style homes and replacement with large homes with a different
architectural style,
·
Land
around the edge of the lake is completely built up—there are no vacant lots,
·
Disappearance
of rental cottages and boat rental facilities on the lake,
·
Conversion
of farmland to condominiums and single family housing, and
·
Loss
of local businesses, such as the Ritz, and their failure to rebuild in the same
location.
Public perceptions of these changes range from broad
acceptance to alarm at their fast pace.
These changes have contributed to a significant amount of visual change
over time—in some cases very quickly.
The community as a whole tends to make decisions
about visual or physical change on public property slowly and deliberately.
There is a high value on new features or elements looking like they have always
been there. The new seawall is an
excellent example of this from a materials and construction standpoint. It also
illustrates the cautious, “bottom-up” decision making processes employed by the
community.
E. Water Quality Perceptions
The Clear Lake community, particularly the urban
residents, holds the Clear Lake
Diagnostic / Feasibility Study in high regard. They helped sponsor this study to clarify the existing water
quality conditions and recommend future management strategies. This study has been incredibly visible to
residents of both the urban and agricultural communities. Residents have observed and interacted with
field personnel conducting sampling and met personally with Dr. Downing at
public events. This high level of
contact with the project has given residents a sense of confidence about the
study, the personnel conducting it and the outcomes.
Residents expressed concern with the quality of
Iowa’s water in general--they realize that clean water is a critically
important to human health. There is a
wider range of beliefs about water quality conditions in Clear Lake
itself. Some residents interviewed were
deeply concerned about water quality conditions in the lake and believe there
is a real problem. Others were less
sure there is a real problem, stating they believe the lake “has always been
this way” and that “it can take care of itself.” There was also confidence
expressed that the lake will “always be here” and available to them.
A similar range of beliefs exists regarding their
hope for improvement in water quality conditions in the lake. Many residents have a high sense of optimism
that conditions can be improved through changes in behavior and land
management. For example one resident
stated, “All is not lost here, but we need answers—our future is
promising.” Others believe that people
have significantly less control over water quality conditions. When responding
to their beliefs about human ability to impact water quality in the lake,
responses included, “it’s tough to make change” and “our hands are tied.”
The amount of money that may be required to enhance
water quality conditions is a concern locally.
Some view that the necessary changes will likely be expensive and not
effective—“a lot of money will be spent and not much will be
accomplished.” Others are certain that
improvements can be affordably made, citing the construction of stormwater
filtration boxes, reduced lawn chemicals and sanitary sewer improvements
already undertaken.
There is a high level of knowledge about the steps
the Clear Lake urban area has taken to improve water quality conditions. The Clear Lake Enhancement And Restoration
Project directed water quality education and improved public awareness in a
role of lake water quality representative to the urban watershed. Because the scope of the CLEAR Project was
limited to the urban landscape, community understanding about the role of the
agricultural watershed is not clearly defined.
F. Community Needs As Related to the Lake
Residents were questioned about additional community
needs specifically related to use of the lake and water quality
conditions. All responses centered on
recreation and use of the lake. Four
distinct needs were communicated.
1.
A
bike trail around the lake—this was the most frequently mentioned need,
2.
More
public docks for day visitors,
3.
Additional
parking for boat trailers and vehicles while boating, and
4.
Small
pocket parks on lakeshore land suitable for picnics, viewing the lake and
general relaxing.
Some
individuals indicated that there are no needs stating, “I can’t think of
anything we don’t already have, besides there’s no land left.”
G. Opportunities for the Diagnostic / Feasibility Study
The Clear Lake community and watershed are
positioned well to respond to the challenges and needs identified by the Diagnostic
/ Feasibility Study. This research
concludes that there is an enormous potential within the community to make and
adjust to the changes necessary to enhance water quality conditions. Several conditions presently exist in Clear
Lake that support this conclusion:
·
Residents
care about Clear Lake very deeply. They have both a personal attachment to the
lake as well as an economic need to maintain its integrity.
·
Clear
Lake, on an individual and a community scale, has a long local history of
taking action locally to facilitate changes they believe are important.
·
Most
community members already acknowledge a water quality problem in Clear Lake and
they wanted this study to identify contributing factors to the conditions and
suggest alternatives.
·
The
community already has a high understanding of water quality basics and has
taken action locally in response. They
have also responded positively to past awareness and education efforts
regarding water quality.
·
The
level of communication within the community is very high—supporting the
effective dispersal of study results and alternatives.
·
Although
some residents question the community’s ability to impact water quality
conditions in the lake, many residents and decision makers are convinced that
conditions can be improved and are willing to support IDNR’s efforts to enhance
water quality conditions.
·
The
community is largely tolerant of the visual aspects of landscape elements
contributing to enhanced water quality—wetlands, prairies, grassed waterways,
filter strips and riparian buffers.
Residents will be able to rationalize the importance of these elements
if they are included in the final solutions selected by IDNR and the
community.
·
The
youth and future generations of the community possess an enormous opportunity
to bring new energy and momentum to the issues present in the community.
H. Appropriate Considerations for Future Action
Three opportunities emerged as a result of this
portion of the Diagnostic / Feasibility Study.
They are presented here as considerations for future community action
that are unrelated to water quality.
Each is connected with strengthening the relationship between people and
the ‘place’ of Clear Lake—in different ways.
These considerations include (1) Community ‘Sense of Place,’ (2)
Interpretation of Local History and (3) Perceptions of Public / Private
Ownership.
Community responses to the loss of long-time
physical features in Clear Lake illustrate the appropriateness of sense of
place studies. Although some choices
and changes related to physical elements of a community are inevitable and
uncontrollable, others can be planned for.
An example would include the visual appearance of City Beach and the
adjacent city park. Residents have
significant internal attachment to both of these landscapes and value the fact
that they have changed little over generations. The identification of other specific characteristics or places in
the community would allow the community to make active decisions about their
management rather than react to change after it occurs.
2.
Interpretation of Local History.
There
is an enormous amount of local history in and adjacent to the lake. Local residents value this history but often
don’t articulate its importance. A
legible interpretation of the past 200+ years in Clear Lake would be a benefit
to residents, including youth, who enjoy remembering the past and learning more
about their home. Visitors would have
an additional type of experience to choose from. The interpretation could also
be linked with a bike trail around the lake, adding value to both experiences.
A sample of potential elements that could be
interpreted include:
·
The
geologic history of Clear Lake and its watershed,
·
Pre-history,
European settlement and recent history,
·
History
of agriculture in the region, and
·
Water
quality topics relating to the lake: changes over time and efforts to enhance
water quality.
3. Perceptions
of Public / Private Ownership. The perception that the lake
is becoming more privatized is an important concern. More research is needed to identify the factors contributing to
the perception. Community elements,
such as pocket parks on the lakeshore, are a beginning step in shifting this
perception.
Pocket parks are small, neighborhood-scale places
that are set aside for everyday types of passive activity, including picnics,
relaxing in the shade, people watching and looking at the lake. These types of activities occurred in
informal ways more frequently before the lakeshore was built up. Pocket parks, and other similar efforts
offering residents and visitors more opportunities to experience the lakeshore,
would be a positive contribution to the community’s concern with change from a
“public” lake to a “private lake.”