Homeowners play an important role in protecting the quality of our lakes and waterways. Previous columns explained how rain gardens, rain barrels, berms and swales, and other landscape features reduce the problems of stormwater runoff, and how to have green lawns without using “un-green” practices. What are some other simple things each of us can do to be part of conserving and protecting our lakes, right here and right now?

Mowing.

Next time (and every time!) we mow our lawns we should make sure to sweep up the grass clippings that land on the street, sidewalk, driveway, and any other impervious surfaces. Tossing the clippings on our compost bins or piles, garden beds, or the lawn from whence they came adds valuable nitrogen back into our growing areas.

If we don’t sweep up, rain carries the grass clippings and any other materials in the street into the storm sewers. The storm sewers empty directly into our lakes where these contaminants cloud the water, stress aquatic life, and feed unwanted algae. To prevent harmful effects in autumn, too, it is important to sweep or rake leaves from hard surfaces.

Storm Drains.

If a storm drain abuts your property, keep it clear of organic debris and trash. If you are unable to be diligent in this effort or may forget, give “removal rights” to one or more of your power-walking neighbors who regularly pass by the drain. They can then pile the debris and trash on your lawn when they notice some and you can collect it. Or, if you have physical limitations and cannot do even that, ask a neighbor to remove and collect it entirely.

Erosion.

Sediment chokes aquatic life and increases water temperatures in lakes. If a landscaped area in our yard lacks vegetation, topsoil can erode onto the street, sidewalk, or driveway, and make its way to our lakes. That bare area needs to be addressed. If the bare spot is under a tree, simply putting down a few inches of mulch or planting a ground cover can solve the problem.

If the area is sloped so that rainfall would wash away mulch, a vigorous groundcover or small retaining wall can prevent erosion. In the case of a steep slope, a terrace system can intercept water and soil, too. Planted with natives and beneficial ground covers, the terraces will control erosion without much effort.

If you’ve tried and failed to get something to grow in a bare area, it’s quite possible all the valuable topsoil has been washed away. Adding some topsoil and compost to the area before planting is likely to help restore its ability to support plant life.

Downspouts.

Downspouts that divert water onto driveways or walkways should be redirected to landscaped areas so that water is absorbed into the soil, rather than channeled directly to the storm sewer. If there is erosion at the end of a downspout, adding a small bed of stones or a splash block can reduce or eliminate the problem.

Car Washing.

To prevent soapy water from reaching storm drains, cars should be washed on lawn, gravel, or other pervious surfaces, or taken to a car wash where the water is recycled.

Pets.

To protect our waterways from harmful bacteria and parasites that can infect humans, such as hookworms, roundworms, and tapeworms, we need to pick up all pet waste and dispose of it properly. (To learn more about how to properly dispose of pet waste, go to http://learningstore.uwex.edu/pdf/GWQ006.pdf.)

Hard Surfaces.

If we plan to remodel or add on to our outdoor living areas, our plans should include materials like bricks, stone, or pavers for patios or walkways instead of concrete. We should use gravel, crushed stone, or pavers for driveways, too, instead of impervious materials like concrete or asphalt.

The natural world doesn’t have shingled roofs, concrete walkways, and streets. Its shingles are leaves; its paths are mulch; and its streets are rivers. The steps above are but a few of the antidotes for the problems caused by the hard surfaces that prevent rainwater from being absorbed where it lands. Since we continue to build on and pave much of terra firma, we must also continue to work toward recycling more rainwater in the way nature most often does – into the ground where it lands. This means finding more antidotes to the unnatural diversion of huge quantities of water into our lakes and streams, and using the antidotes we already have at every opportunity.