FOCUS AREA | NOISE POLLUTION

Sometimes it’s the roar of a truck engine cruising down the road. Other times, it’s the unmistakable buzz of a jet ski skipping across the waves. Every so often, it’s a chorus of campers singing along to the nearby stereo. Generally speaking, making sound isn’t an issue: too much, however, becomes noise. 

Noise pollution is excessive or disruptive noise that interferes with normal activities and disturbs the peace. Excessive noise is not just an annoyance; it can impact human health and wildlife. Some of the sources of noise pollution around Lake Poinsett are due to watercraft such as boats and jet skis. The roads and highways around Lake Poinsett can also contribute to noise pollution, with semitrucks and automobiles generating significant noise. Even recreational activities such as picnicking and camping can result in excessive noise. 

Noise pollution can damage the solitude many of us expect from our time on the lake. Wildlife and fish can be deterred from areas with excessive noise. Addressing noise pollution around Lake Poinsett requires a combination of regulatory measures, land use planning, noise mitigation strategies, public awareness, and community engagement to minimize impacts on the environment, wildlife, residents, and recreational users.