Think Blue – Be LakeSmart

Green living is more than energy conservation. It is protecting our environment and natural resources. That includes the water quality of our lakes. Being LakeSmart is key to living green by helping you protect your shorefront property for yourself, your children and your grandchildren.
LakeSmart’s goal is to convert the increasing suburban landscaping around lakes to more natural, lake-friendly landscapes that reduce storm water runoff and phosphorus pollution  from lawns, driveways, roads, and gardens, which fuels explosive algae growth that turn water green, use up the water’s oxygen supply choking the fish, and smell terrible.
Where does phosphorus come from? Fertilizer is the number one culprit. But there’s more: detergent, motor oil, pet waste, paint thinner, drain cleaners, pesticides, garbage and soil all contribute.

What you can do

1) Find out where your stormwater goes when it’s raining.
Then direct the stormwater flow to a buffer, a place with an abundance of trees, shrubs, ground cover and duff (twigs, leaves and pine needles. Duff is nature’s mulch. It proves nutrients for vegetation and holds moisture when it’s dry.)  Buffers slow the stormwater run-off, allowing it to seep into the ground where soil particles bind with the phosphorus and hold onto it as a natural fertilizer for plants.

2) Stop mowing that part of the lawn you rarely use for recreation, and plant the     no-mow areas with native shrubs and flowering plants.
 Frame your view of the lake with native plants that will attract birds and other wildlife. Yards and lawns become so compact that 40 to 70 percent of rainwater runs off and carries pollutants into our lakes. A wide buffer of trees and shrubs is the number one lake protection tool.










Copyright © 2007 Franklin County Soil & Water Conservation District