A conversation with Andris Nolendorfs, an entrepreneur in Kurzeme

Last summer – as you said – you set about cleaning the pond and encountered serious opposition! How so?

As is well known, last summer was very dry, and the water in the pond receded. The shallow end of the pond was "crying out" to be cleaned; it was variously polluted and overgrown. I managed to arrange an excavator with a long reach (18 m) from Grobiņa, and without disturbing my neighbours, I organised the cleaning of my part of the pond. Before that, I spoke to the neighbours and wanted to reach an agreement on such work – to drain the pond, clean it, and flood it again. There are three of us who own the pond, so the expenses would be shared by three. The neighbours said that they didn't have such a large and unnecessary amount of money. They were also not particularly interested in any work to tidy up the pond. The neighbour woman said that she only needed the water for her greenhouse. The other neighbour also had financial problems. Well, what of it – the summer was dry, the pond was partially dried out, so I decided to act! I hauled away what I had scooped up on my property, levelled it, picked out glass and other inappropriate things…

Personally, no one advised me, told me, or warned me about anything. However, the neighbour woman, who wasn't interested in the cleanliness of the pond, had told quite a few people that I was draining the pond, that the mounds had disappeared… That same neighbour woman! Such are the people of Kurzeme!

Everyone who could come arrived “for a call (report)”. First, the municipal police. They didn't see anything criminal. Representatives of the construction board arrived – “why am I draining the 'sluice' without permission”. What “sluice”? The “sluice” is found further away! Ah! They thought it was here! No, the pond is here!

The construction board ordered the work to stop and for nothing to continue. I don't know if the approaching elections (summer 2018) or something else made them all so active. I don't need a project for dredging mud!

A representative from the National Heritage Board also drove up and talked about authorisation. Only they didn't say – from whom! Seriously, it didn't cross my mind that I needed to authorise anything with anyone! If I wanted to cut down trees by the pond, I understand that. But to dredge mud in my own territory, in my own pond, to remove dumped waste, I need authorisation!

It seems: when the pond is filthy, the inspectors are satisfied and everything “counts” as fine. The moment you start cleaning – potential inspections are right there!

Arnis Jansons from the State Environmental Service expressed that “cleaning work is a trauma for the little fish”. What trauma? The end of the pond was partially dried out, I wanted to clean it, and they are telling me about fish trauma!

I stocked the pond with carp and pike. And crayfish too. Of course, after cleaning it. I wanted a proper pond. My work was “cut short” quickly; they talked about large fines. For what?

Speaking of order by the pond, there is also the story of a maple…

Yes – a neighbour's maple is still growing by the pond, which can be seen well on the other side!

Speaking of my maple, a long time ago, back in Soviet times, one large branch of the tree separated and fell into the pond. The remaining branch held on, but as time went on, potential problems emerged and became visible, namely, the branch could break off and fall on someone. Specialists from the Slītere Nature Reserve arrived, investigated, looked at it, and scraped the rot out of the cavity. The conclusion – an arborist needs to be called and the tree can be tended to. Last year, the big storm broke another fairly large branch off that same maple. I spoke to the regional council: what is the matter – a little more and the rest of the tree will break too… They refused me, telling me to photograph the maple from three sides and send the pictures. They gave permission, I sawed it down!

The neighbour’s other maple, which we can see, had the same problem. He asked for permission, waited and waited, wrote to the main Nature Protection Agency (DAP) office in Sigulda. The answer came after three months: you cannot saw it! The neighbour has to buy a pole, prop up the bent branch, and that’s it! No sawing, they won't allow it! At the moment, a ladder is leaning against the stump, and one can see that the remaining branch is not holding up very well – the crack that has opened up must be several centimetres wide… If the branch breaks in high winds… I suggested the neighbour ask the non-sawing authorities for an official document where they undertake to be responsible if, when the branch breaks, something happens… The neighbour has daily activities and work going on in the yard, which is right next to the half-broken maple! Ducks and chickens graze there, there are dogs, livestock are led to pasture there, and the neighbour himself and machinery are there!

The attitude is strange. It is understandable if there is a tree – then there is a tree! But here…