The recent tragedy on the White River in Indiana has led me to wonder just how much responsibility we, as anglers, have to preserve and protect our rivers and streams. I don't mean just in the event of a spill or other disaster, but on a general day to day basis. Who really is responsible for the upkeep of our flowing ecosystems? Local agencies? State agencies? The Feds? Do our license fees get put into programs designed to maintain outdoor habitat? The uncovering of a scandal at the federal level whereby sportsmen's dollars were being pilfered and used elsewhere suggests our hard earned money does not always end up where it should.

Simple is good, so I'll start there. Trash along the banks or in the water; who is responsible for picking it up? Since I did not put it there I can easily choose to ignore it. I can also just as easily take five seconds and pick it up. The question is should I feel obligated to do so? If I don't pick it up, will someone else? What if from now on nobody ever picked up another piece of trash they didn't drop to begin with? Would our rivers and streams eventually become unusable due to the amount of trash nobody wanted to clean up? If I get caught littering should I be punished in some way?

Now let's venture to the opposite extreme. A manufacturing plant or business of some type spills a deadly chemical into the river. Now who is responsible? The business? The agency or agencies who are supposed to monitor the business to make sure it is abiding by regulations? There are authorities in place to clean up such a disaster, right? Who makes sure the clean up is carried out properly and thoroughly? More of those agencies? Who is going to hold the "at fault" party responsible and make sure they pay? How do you put a monetary value on thousands of dead fish, other dead animals and birds, and infected water systems used by the public? Is the punishment sufficient or merely a slap on the hand?

It is very easy to get angry and emotional over something like a deadly spill, yet we often overlook or dismiss something "minor" like soda cans on the bank or discarded fishing line in the water. If we can't decide for ourselves how to handle the soda cans, how can we be effective in fighting the big problems? Granted the approach to picking up trash and handling a spill are different and we, as anglers, have different roles in the two scenarios, but the underlying principle remains the same.

The bottom line is we should all be involved with our own rivers and streams in some fashion. Whether we simply pick up trash on our own as we leave for the day or we get involved with a local or state organization that works to preserve our rivers, there is SOMETHING each of us can do. Here in Kentucky we have an annual clean up of the Kentucky River. Volunteers pick up an enormous amount of trash from both the river banks and the river itself. Is the river spotless? Of course not, but I hate to think what it would look like if these folks didn't volunteer their time to come out and clean up after the slobs. If no such event takes place in your area, maybe you and your fishing buddies should start one. We have "Adopt A Highway" programs so why not "Adopt A River" programs?

Getting involved in the investigation and clean up of a spill is more involved, but there are still things you can do. Call your DNR or state wildlife agency, call your local and state representatives, call the newspaper, call everybody you can and let them know you will be monitoring the operation and a half-hearted effort will not suffice. The squeaky wheel gets the grease, but when nobody squeaks, things are sometimes ignored or only resolved partially. Join or start an organization in your area that exists to protect your area rivers and streams. Single voices are often easy to dismiss, but a collective voice gets attention.

Who is responsible for our aquatic ecosystems? We are, in some form or fashion. Will people still leave trash in our rivers? Yes. Will deadly spills still occur somewhere, sooner or later? Unfortunately, yes. We still need to do what we can to clean up and prevent the destruction of our resources. This is not meant as a lecture nor am I accusing anyone of inaction. It is simply food for thought brought on by what I consider the rape of the White River.

"River Smallies.com is dedicated to promoting and preserving the smallmouth bass as a vital part of our natural resources." That statement involves a whole bunch of things, folks! I take that to heart and the rest of the staff takes that to heart. If you need attention brought to a problem on one of your rivers or streams or you think we can assist you in some way, please contact us. We may not be able to solve your problem, but we'll help if we can. Sure, we could just sit around and talk lures and tactics all day, but is that really fulfilling our obligation? I don't think so.