As an individual, there are many things that you can do around your home to protect the water quality of our lakes and streams.
- Become familiar with your watershed. Know where the rain that runs off your land goes. Surf your watershed at the Environmental Protection Agency website http://cfpub.epa.gov/surf/locate/.
- Use permeable paving such as porous asphalt, pervious concrete, paving stones, or grass pavers. By allowing stormwater to pass through the pavement, it is less likely to run off into a storm sewer carrying pollutants to a river or lake. A statewide list of local watershed district as well as soil and water conservation district professionals who can provide information about these products can be found on the Minnesota Association of Watershed Districts website at http://www.mnwatershed.org/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={5225BC0A-5C4A-49E4-82B5-5961A404601A} and on the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts website at http://www.maswcd.org/SWCDs_On_The_Web/swcds_on_the_web.htm.
- Reduce the size of your lawn by planting native plants or rain gardens. Native plants require less maintenance since they are adapted to the environment and they add beauty and wildlife habitat in all seasons. Rain gardens have the same qualities as well as the benefit of allowing stormwater to seep naturally into the ground. The Blue Thumb program of the Rice Creek Watershed District has an informative resource page http://www.bluethumb.org about cost-share assistance from local governments.
- Reduce the amount of fertilizer and other lawn chemicals you use. These chemicals can become a part of stormwater runoff and end up in our lakes and streams.
- Create a buffer zone along the shoreline of lakes, rivers and wetlands. Plants and trees reduce shoreline erosion, act as filters for lawn chemicals, provide wildlife habitat, and improve the aesthetic value of your property. The Minnesota Shoreland Management Resource Guide http://www.shorelandmanagement.org/ has information about sustainable shoreland practices to improve management of Minnesota’s lakes and rivers.
- Do not wash unused pharmaceuticals down your sink or toilet. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency directs people to keep the medication in the original container and mark out personal information. Add water to dissolve pills or add flour to liquids, seal the container with tape, and place in it your trash. Pharmaceuticals that are washed down the drain are not treated by wastewater treatment facilities and are being found in our rivers where it is believed they are harming fish. See the fact sheet about pharmaceutical disposal on the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s website http://www.pca.state.mn.us/waste/hhw/pharmaceuticals.html.
- Clean up after your pet. Pet waste adds harmful nutrients to lakes and rivers which leads to algae blooms http://www.minneapolisparks.org/default.asp?PageID=1146.
- Maintain your septic system properly and have an old system replaced. Septic systems are a major contributor to the pollution of rivers, lakes and ground water in Minnesota. Information about maintaining septic systems can be found on the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s website http://www.pca.state.mn.us/programs/ists/homeowners.html.
- Stop the spread of invasive species in Minnesota’s lakes and rivers. Remove all plants, mud and fish, and drain water from your equipment before transporting it to another area. Find out more you can do at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/index.html and at http://www.protectyourwaters.net/.
As a community, there are many things that can be done to protect the water quality of lakes and streams.
- Organize a lake or river clean-up and celebration event in your community. The website Watershed Activities to Encourage Restoration http://www.watershedactivities.com/ is a compilation of simple, low-cost projects that your community can use to help protect and restore your water resources. Also see the Adopt-A-River Program of the Minnesota Department of Resources http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/adoptriver/index.html.
- Establish sound land use planning practices that promote development. This practice limits the amount of impervious surface area and protects natural areas, especially wetlands and shorelands. Also consider working to make building and zoning changes that protect lakes, rivers and wetlands. More information about protecting water quality and low impact development can be found on the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District website http://www.minnehahacreek.org/lid.php.
- Promote the creation of a buffer zone along the shoreline of lakes, rivers and wetlands. The Minnesota Shoreland Management Resource Guide http://www.shorelandmanagement.org/ has information about sustainable shoreland practices to improve management of Minnesota’s lakes and rivers.
- Work with a lake association to promote clean water. Minnesota Waters http://www.minnesotawaters.org/ is an organization that works with lake and river groups to promote responsible stewardship of our water resources by engaging citizens, local and state policymakers, and other partners in the protection and restoration of Minnesota’s lakes and rivers.
- Educate your community about the proper disposal of pharmaceuticals and sponsor a medicine collection day. Find more information on the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s website http://www.pca.state.mn.us/waste/hhw/pharmaceuticals.html.
As a business, there are many things that can be done to protect the water quality of lakes and streams.
- The Minnesota Technical Assistance Program at the University of Minnesota http://www.mntap.umn.edu/ offers financial assistance, resources and awards for businesses that implement pollution prevention strategies and activities, maximize efficient use of resources, and reduce energy use and cost. There are resources for water conservation as well as innovative wastewater strategies.
- Find out about the Small Business Environmental Assistance Program which promotes low impact development for businesses. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has information about this program on their website at http://www.pca.state.mn.us/programs/sbeap-lid.html.