Shongum Lake

Plant a shoreline vegetative buffer, if your property borders the lake or one of the feeder streams. This buffer can be comprised of grasses, sedges, rushes and even perennials. These plants have much bigger roots than lawn grasses so are better at absorbing and filtering runoff and prevent erosion and sedimentation. Native plant species are the best to use because they are adapted to local conditions and thus require little maintenance once established. This buffer zone provides shelter and food for a variety of wildlife species including natural insect predators such as dragonflies thereby deterring mosquitoes while at the same time provides a deterrent to nuisance geese. Visit your local garden center.

Reduce lawn. The same nutrients that promote a lush green lawn can promote a lush green growth of aquatic plants and algae in a lake. Lawns have shallow root systems and so when it rains most of the water runs off instead of soaking in. Fertilizers and pesticides applied to lawns end up in the lake where they feed algae and degrade water quality. Lawns are more likely to get eroded and soil erosion can also lead to too much algae in a lake. Too much algae in a lake makes the water murky and lowers oxygen levels which can threaten cold water fish species and other wildlife. Keep only the amount of lawn you need for recreational purposes and plant the remaining areas with native trees, shrubs and ground covering plants which require much less maintenance.

Practice natural lawn care

Keep your leaves and lawn clippings out of the lake, streets, drains and gutters. Leaves and grass are rich in phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) which are the primary nutrients that in excessive amounts pollute our lake and are responsible for excessive plant growth and algal blooms. If you have a street drain near your property, adopt it and keep it clear of debris so that the phosphorus rich debris does not get into the waterways and make its way to the lake.

Plant a rain garden or use a rain barrel to prevent rainwater runoff which carries pollutants from entering sewers and then getting into the lake. A rain garden is a depressed area in the landscape near areas of high runoff like driveways or downspouts that is planted with deep rooted native plants which soak up the water. A rain barrel usually connects to a downspout and collects rainwater which then can be used later during a dry spell for watering (cover with a fine mesh or add vegetable oil to coat top surface to prevent mosquitoes).

Pick up pet waste as it also is high in phosphorus.

Use commercial car washes because they filter their water before directing it to treatment plants. If you must wash your vehicle at home, park it on the grass so your lawn absorbs some of the detergent runoff and contaminants.