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On the lake, a farmer in a small, basket-shaped boat harvests wild water vegetables, scooping them up with his hands.

Wild water birds — including ducks, gulls and shorebirds — are the natural reservoirs for influenza A viruses, which come in a variety of subtypes.

Other businesses, like rafting and zipline company Wild Water in Oconee County, are implementing more protective measures, like wearing face masks for lifejacket safety checks and using online safety waivers instead of pen and paper, Trey Barnett said.

“Water that once ran wild. Water that ruined the rich terrain. Water that took lives and land. Put disaster in the headlines and death upon the soil. Now, it just waits there. Calm, peaceful. Ready to do the bidding of man and his machines.”

Wild Water facilities have been fully booked for five months and the company is investing in extra space to help meet demand.