Benefits and Threats Lake Benefits * Health benefits to society * Drinking water * Irrigation * Fish and wildlife habitat * Recreation like fishing and boating * Floodwater control * Hydroelectricity * Beautiful places to explore and watch fish and wildlife Northern Map Turtles Habitat structures on Lake Nessmuk, Tioga County. Threats to Lakes * Humans can impact lake health. * Vegetation and tree removal on lakes opens up shoreline erosion. * Aquatic vegetation removal removes nutrient sources and cover for animals. * Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) outcompete native species. * Climate change and weather events impact lake ecology and erode lake shorelines. * Pollution harms lake food chains. New Zealand mudsnails are Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS). Learn more about pollution and water quality at www.fishandboat.com/Transact/ AnglerBoater/AnglerBoater2019/Documents/play-04-fall-watercycle.pdf. Learn more about healthy water in aquatic ecosystems at www.fishandboat.com/ LearningCenter/ActivitiesAndEducationPortal/AquaticHabitat/Documents/play2018-WaterWaterReadAllAboutIt_Allpages.pdf. www.fishandboat.com Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * July/August 2021 49 Clean Your Gear! Before leaving this waterway, check for and remove any aquatic life (plants and animals), mud, and other organic debris.http://www.fishandboat.com/Transact/AnglerBoater/AnglerBoater2019/Documents/play-04-fall-watercycle.pdf http://www.fishandboat.com/Transact/AnglerBoater/AnglerBoater2019/Documents/play-04-fall-watercycle.pdf http://www.fishandboat.com/LearningCenter/ActivitiesAndEducationPortal/AquaticHabitat/Documents/play-2018-WaterWaterReadAllAboutIt_Allpages.pdf http://www.fishandboat.com/LearningCenter/ActivitiesAndEducationPortal/AquaticHabitat/Documents/play-2018-WaterWaterReadAllAboutIt_Allpages.pdf http://www.fishandboat.com/LearningCenter/ActivitiesAndEducationPortal/AquaticHabitat/Documents/play-2018-WaterWaterReadAllAboutIt_Allpages.pdf http://www.fishandboat.com