WHAT CAN YOU DO

10 Ways You Can Help Keep Our Lakes and Streams Clean, Regardless of Where You Live

You don't have to live right on a lake or a stream to help keep our waters clean.  Lakers, city dwellers, and country folk alike can take one or more of the 10 actions on this list to become a part of protecting our lakes and streams for future generations.

1. Identify your watershed: Find out where water goes after it drains off your property. Which lake, stream or other water body is affected by your daily actions? Find out if there is a local lake or watershed group that you can become an active member of.
2. Keep stormwater on your property: Hard surfaces like roofs, sidewalks and driveways funnel water that may contain pollutants into storm drains and directly into lakes and streams. Help restore the water cycle by reducing paved surfaces and using porous materials like mulch, gravel and brick, which allow water to seep into the ground where it is purified and slowly recharges surface waters. Consider installing a rain barrel to collect water from your roof, which can be used to water your lawn and garden. Install rain gardens with native plants in low areas of your yard.
3. Maintain or create a natural buffer: Allow native vegetation to grow high along stream banks and lake shores. The plants will help prevent erosion and filter pollutants from runoff. Consider creating a buffer between your landscaped areas and storm drains or ditches as well. The easiest way to do this is to leave an unmowed strip between your landscaped area and the water body, but you can also plant a variety of beautiful native water-loving plants.
4. Implement responsible lawn and garden care practices: Have your soil tested before applying fertilizers - over-application can result in nutrients like phosphorus entering lakes and streams and causing excess weed and algae growth. Use phosphorus-free fertilizers if possible. Reduce pesticide use as pesticides can contaminate water through runoff or leaching into groundwater. Minimize lawn area that needs fertilizers and pesticides and let your grass grow longer before you mow to allow for better rainwater filtration.
5. Compost yard waste: Compost is a valuable soil conditioner that will gradually release nutrients into your lawn and garden. Using compost can reduce or even eliminate the need for fertilizers. If you live along a lake or stream, do not throw yard waste into the water as excess organic matter in the water can cause elevated nutrient levels and reduced oxygen.
6. Prevent erosion from your property: The number one contaminant in our lakes and streams is sediment, which clogs up waterways, disturbs aquatic habitats, and often carries pollutants. Patch any bare spots in your lawn with native grasses or groundcover, or use mulch in shady areas where grass won't grow. If you're working on a landscaping project, minimize the amount of time the soil is disturbed by re-planting as soon as possible and avoiding such work before major rain is forecasted.
7. Dispose of animal waste properly: Throw pet waste in the garbage rather than leaving it in the grass or on the street. In a rain event, this waste can be washed down storm drains or into water bodies, where it will contaminate the water with harmful bacteria. If you have livestock, use fencing to keep the animals out of lakes and streams.
8. Dispose of household hazardous waste properly: Never dump oil, gasoline or household chemicals down your sinks or storm drains. If you need to dispose of these kinds of materials, contact the Kosciusko County Recycling Depot at (574)372-3087. When filling your mower or other gasoline-powered tools, use a funnel to prevent spills.
9. Maintain your septic system: Septic systems should be inspected and pumped regularly, depending on the tank size and number of residents in your home. A failing septic system can contaminate groundwater. Avoid planting trees too close to your septic system as the roots can crack pipes and cause wastewater seepage.
10. Get involved in your watershed: Become a member and active volunteer in your local lake association or watershed group - or form one if one doesn't exist! Become a volunteer water quality monitor, organize a stream or beach cleanup, or volunteer to give an educational presentation on your watershed for a local school or civic organization. And spend time enjoying your local lake, stream, or wetland!

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