At home
Whether it is the beautiful colors or fragrant aromas of the Meadow Lake Park gardens, or the diversity of wildlife attracted to the lake, all of the residents of the watershed benefit from a healthy lake environment.
However, the success of any community effort is determined by the commitment from individuals. As residents of the watershed and property owners surrounding the lake, there is a set of best practices that can be implemented. Here are a few things you can do at home to lessen the negative impact on the lake, and enhance the positive outcomes for the watershed.
However, the success of any community effort is determined by the commitment from individuals. As residents of the watershed and property owners surrounding the lake, there is a set of best practices that can be implemented. Here are a few things you can do at home to lessen the negative impact on the lake, and enhance the positive outcomes for the watershed.
BEST PRACTICES
FERTILIZE SMART
Make sure your fertilizer is phosphorus-free. Sweep up fertilizer that spills onto hard surfaces. Soils in our area already contain enough phosphorus to maintain most lawns. Excess phosphorus washes away into nearby lakes or streams where it feeds algae. Algae blooms stress fish and wildlife, and they make swimming and fishing unpleasant or impossible.
GRASS AND LEAVES – DON’T BLOW IT OFF
Blow or rake grass clippings and leaves out of the street. Leave them on your lawn, use them for compost or bag them up. Grass clippings and leaves in the street end up in the storm sewer where they are carried to nearby lakes and streams. Clippings and leaves contain phosphorus and other nutrients that, like fertilizer, feed algae and other aquatic plants.
USE YOUR RUNOFF
Direct your downspouts onto your lawn or garden or into a rain barrel. Use rainwater to water your lawn and garden. It is free, naturally soft and perfect for keeping green things growing. Using rainwater reduces runoff that carries pollutants to lakes and streams.
SCOOP THE POOP
Grab a bag when you grab the leash, and pick up after your pets. When pet waste is left behind, rainwater washes it into lakes and streams. Pet waste contains bacteria that can cause illness. It also contains nutrients that can cause algae blooms in lakes and streams.
USE CHEMICALS WISELY
Use chemical products according to label directions. Consider alternative or natural remedies to control weeds and pests. Read labels on herbicides and pesticides carefully. Use the minimum amount needed to control the problem. Find natural remedies to control weeds and pests online or at your local nursery.
KEEP A HEALTHY LAWN
Aerate your lawn, seed bare patches and mow at a higher setting. Healthy lawns are good for the environment. A vigorous lawn needs less watering, fewer chemicals and less maintenance. Aerate your lawn periodically to loosen the soil. Seed bare patches to prevent erosion and soil loss. Mow at a higher setting. Grass mowed to a height of 2½ to 3 inches develops deeper, healthier roots and has a competitive advantage over weeds.
PLANT A RAIN GARDEN
Capture, clean and infiltrate rainwater that would otherwise run off your property. Rain gardens are planted depressions designed to store rainwater and allow it to soak into the soil.
REPLACE TURF WITH NATIVE PLANTS
Swap some of your high-maintenance lawn for low-maintenance native ground cover, plants or grasses. Many native plants develop deeper root structures than turf grass, which reduces runoff by allowing for better water infiltration.
REDUCE YOUR FOOTPRINT
Replace some pavement – such as a walk, patio or driveway – with pavers or pervious pavement. The porous surface will allow water to seep through, reducing the amount of water that runs off into the storm sewer.
ADOPT A STORM DRAIN
Keep neighborhood storm drains free of leaves, seeds and grass clippings. Storm drains are directly connected to the nearest body of water. Water running into storm drains carries with it anything dumped nearby including leaves, grass clippings, soil, oil, paint and chemicals. Keeping storm drains clear will protect the water quality of nearby lakes, streams and rivers.
Make sure your fertilizer is phosphorus-free. Sweep up fertilizer that spills onto hard surfaces. Soils in our area already contain enough phosphorus to maintain most lawns. Excess phosphorus washes away into nearby lakes or streams where it feeds algae. Algae blooms stress fish and wildlife, and they make swimming and fishing unpleasant or impossible.
GRASS AND LEAVES – DON’T BLOW IT OFF
Blow or rake grass clippings and leaves out of the street. Leave them on your lawn, use them for compost or bag them up. Grass clippings and leaves in the street end up in the storm sewer where they are carried to nearby lakes and streams. Clippings and leaves contain phosphorus and other nutrients that, like fertilizer, feed algae and other aquatic plants.
USE YOUR RUNOFF
Direct your downspouts onto your lawn or garden or into a rain barrel. Use rainwater to water your lawn and garden. It is free, naturally soft and perfect for keeping green things growing. Using rainwater reduces runoff that carries pollutants to lakes and streams.
SCOOP THE POOP
Grab a bag when you grab the leash, and pick up after your pets. When pet waste is left behind, rainwater washes it into lakes and streams. Pet waste contains bacteria that can cause illness. It also contains nutrients that can cause algae blooms in lakes and streams.
USE CHEMICALS WISELY
Use chemical products according to label directions. Consider alternative or natural remedies to control weeds and pests. Read labels on herbicides and pesticides carefully. Use the minimum amount needed to control the problem. Find natural remedies to control weeds and pests online or at your local nursery.
KEEP A HEALTHY LAWN
Aerate your lawn, seed bare patches and mow at a higher setting. Healthy lawns are good for the environment. A vigorous lawn needs less watering, fewer chemicals and less maintenance. Aerate your lawn periodically to loosen the soil. Seed bare patches to prevent erosion and soil loss. Mow at a higher setting. Grass mowed to a height of 2½ to 3 inches develops deeper, healthier roots and has a competitive advantage over weeds.
PLANT A RAIN GARDEN
Capture, clean and infiltrate rainwater that would otherwise run off your property. Rain gardens are planted depressions designed to store rainwater and allow it to soak into the soil.
REPLACE TURF WITH NATIVE PLANTS
Swap some of your high-maintenance lawn for low-maintenance native ground cover, plants or grasses. Many native plants develop deeper root structures than turf grass, which reduces runoff by allowing for better water infiltration.
REDUCE YOUR FOOTPRINT
Replace some pavement – such as a walk, patio or driveway – with pavers or pervious pavement. The porous surface will allow water to seep through, reducing the amount of water that runs off into the storm sewer.
ADOPT A STORM DRAIN
Keep neighborhood storm drains free of leaves, seeds and grass clippings. Storm drains are directly connected to the nearest body of water. Water running into storm drains carries with it anything dumped nearby including leaves, grass clippings, soil, oil, paint and chemicals. Keeping storm drains clear will protect the water quality of nearby lakes, streams and rivers.
