Oh no. I've had a very hard day - I found more of the invasive Najas minor (European Naiad) plant in our lake after the specialist suction team had cleaned up last week.
I found more plants because the fantastic fall sunlight improved the visibility substantially, allowing me to see to greater depths. I not only found more, but I found them in an area that we had surveyed previously, albeit on a cloudy day. It was woefully depressing.
I was heartsore. Each time I sighted a new plant, I felt as if I was being stabbed in the chest, literally. It was visceral. By the time I got back home, I was hopelessly despondent and pained by my findings, close to tears. In all, we added 14 new locations to our shoreline. The rest of my day was filled with gloom, and I struggled to regain my chi.
Somehow, after the removal of the plants last week, and subsequent surveys turning up nothing, I'd let myself believe that this was it, that we'd caught and contained it early enough; that I'd heroically saved the lake by my early discovery. Did I think that swooshing my 'superwoman' cape was enough to make it all go away? How could I be so egotistical and naive? On what planet do things turn out right the first time, after very little effort? Too many Disney movies have left me hopelessly and innocently hopeful. If I'm not running a fever, then it's time for a reality check! Time to pull up my big girl pants and keep fighting!
3 comments:
Oh, Debbie, I'm so sorry to hear that the "invasive" is more prevalent than you all thought. But, please, don't be so hard on yourself. You're doing good work!
Oh no! But really, you have to know that you cannot control what has happened in that lake prior to your discovery. It has had possibly years to take root, spread, seed, etc. But so discouraging, for sure. I worry about that lake. It sort of gets abused every single weekend all spring and summer and into the fall.
I wish my big girl pants had pockets, though!
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