Africa-Press – Liberia. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Liberia has sounded a national alarm over Lake Shepherd, warning that the lake poses a growing threat to nearby communities due to potential overflow and worsening environmental conditions.
During a press briefing on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at the Harper Administration Building, EPA Executive Director Dr. Emmanuel Urey Yarkpawolo said the lake could spill into residential areas in the coming years, endangering homes, infrastructure, and public health.
“Our findings reveal that Lake Shepherd is at risk of overflowing into populated areas, which could lead to the destruction of buildings and the displacement of residents,” Dr. Yarkpawolo stated. He also pointed to the Atlantic Ocean’s erosion of coastal land as an added threat facing the region.
The EPA boss raised additional alarms about burial practices near the lake, citing numerous graves in the vicinity. “Graves located near water sources pose serious environmental and health threats. Such practices must stop,” he cautioned.
Dr. Yarkpawolo referenced Executive Order 143 issued by President Joseph Boakai, which mandates a national response to environmental degradation and wetland protection. He emphasized that collaboration from local communities and authorities is essential for meaningful enforcement.
The EPA director also linked the recent rise in violent storms across Southeastern Liberia to climate change, noting that these extreme weather events have resulted in loss of life, destruction of infrastructure—including damage to the Fish Town Sports Stadium in River Gee County—and displacement in several counties.
“Illegal logging and forest degradation increase communities’ vulnerability to climate change impacts. We must change our behavior to adapt,” he urged.
Additionally, Dr. Yarkpawolo highlighted illegal mining operations in Grand Kru County as a key driver of water pollution. He also expressed concern over undocumented foreign nationals, particularly from Burkina Faso, engaging in unregulated environmental activities in Grand Gedeh County.
While in Maryland County, the EPA engaged Environmental Science students at William V.S. Tubman University and consulted with university leadership and local officials on ways to strengthen environmental education and protection.
The EPA’s environmental assessment tour will continue in Sinoe County on Thursday, May 9, 2025, as part of its broader nationwide effort to monitor and address environmental risks.
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