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5 Ways to Protect Dane County Lakes and Streams
(Reprinted and modified from Dane County
Webpage)
- Learn
more about local waters and join a local watershed or conservation
group. Go to our Dane County Waters page (www.countyofdane.com/commissions/lakes/waters.shtml) and use the Watershed
Locator to find out what watershed you live in. Then go to Watershed
Associations, Friends Groups and Other Natural Resource Groups to
locate an active group in your area. There are many groups in Dane
County all working to preserve and enhance the natural resources here.
Check out their web sites or get in touch with their contact person to
find out how you can get involved. If you don’t find one where you
live, consider starting over!
- Test your
soil before applying fertilizers containing phosphorus. Apply
phosphorus-containing lawn fertilizer only if a soil test shows it’s
needed. If it’s not needed, be sure to purchase phosphorus-free
fertilizers if you fertilize. Look for 0 as the middle number-all
fertilizers shower three numbers on the label (10-0-5, for example.)
The middle number represents the amount of phosphorus. So, buy zero.
Learn more about phosphorus on our Phosphorus Control in Dane County
page (http://www.danewaters.com/management/Phosphorus.aspx)
- Keep
leaves and grass clippings out of the street and ditches, compost, and
practice other water-friendly lawn care. Instead of raking your leaves
to the ditch, start a compost pile. Leaves make great fertilizer for
vegetable and flower gardens. They can also be tilled right into your
garden. Or you could use a mulching mower to chop the leaves into
little bits for your turf. If you do rake, make sure that the leaves
stay out of the roadside ditch. Learn where the nearest storm drain is
in relation to your house. Then learn which lake or stream receives the
stormwater that drain sends. Read about it in our You’re the Solution
to Water pollution series of brochures. (http://www.danewaters.com/press/waterpollution.aspx)
- Keep
water on site and soil in place (so it’s out of our waters). Try
building rain gardens, installing rain barrels and directing roof
gutters and downspouts to grassy areas (pervious areas) rather than
hard surfaces (such as driveways and sidewalks that will deliver
stormwater to storm drains and eventually our water resources). Be sure
to mulch or plant any bare soil so that rain and snow don’t erode it
away. Check out our Rain Garden Information page. (http://www.danewaters.com/private/raingarden.aspx)
- Reduce
motorized vehicle use; maintain vehicles in an environmentally friendly
way (don’t pump oil in storm drains or on the street, for example). Get
your oil changed at a service station. If you change your car’s oil
yourself, take the used oil to a collection site for recycling. Never
let any oil make its way to the storm drain. Make sure your car doesn’t
leak antifreeze, brake fluid, or windshield wiper fluid. These leaks
and drips could be washed into the storm drain from the street or your
driveway with the next rainstorm. Make sure you sweep your driveway
instead of using the hose to wash debris away. Wash your car on your
lawn instead of your driveway, or go to a carwash.
For additional information
on stormwater pollution and the effect on Dane County lakes, rivers and
streams, see:
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