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Ten Best
Management Practices For Lake Protection and
Enjoyment
1.
Septic systems
should be in code with local ordinances and properly operated
and maintained.
- Do not put household cleaners,
paint, solvents and pesticides down the drain.
- Practice water conservation in
the home.
- Limit the use of antibacterial
products.
- Pump septic systems at least
every three years, more often depending on use. Systems with
garbage disposals should be pumped annually.
2.
Practice good lawn
maintenance.
- Limit fertilizing. Use
zero-phosphorus fertilizer unless a soil test indicates the
need for phosphorus. Do not fertilizer within 50 feet of the
lake.
- Keep grass clipping, leaves
and pet waste out of the lake.
- Reduce or eliminate pesticide
use on the lawn and garden.
3. Maintain or establish a shoreland
buffer zone of natural vegetation.
- Buffers prevent erosion and
infiltration of nutrients into the lake.
- Buffers should be a minimum of
30 feet.
- Encourage woody vegetation and
tall grasses to stabilize the shoreland.
- Minimize the disturbance of
aquatic plants as they help to stabilize shorelines, and
they are critical as habitat for fish and other wildlife.
- Slow shoreland runoff with
gentle sloping and terraced landscaping.
4.
Be a safe
boater.
5.
Practice catch-and-release fishing.
6.
Prevent the spread of exotics, such as eurasian
watermilfoil and zebra mussels.
- Checking your boat before and
after launching in the water; encourage others at the public
access to do the same.
- Lake associations can organize
monitoring teams to check for milfoil during the summer or
organize access monitoring programs. (For assistance, call
the DNR Eurasian Watermilfoil Program at 651-297-8021).
- Participate in the Zebra
Mussel Watch Program. Call the DNR at 651-296-2835 or
Minnesota Sea Grant at 218-726-8106.
7. Work with local
officials
- Be part of the local water
planning process; ensure that the county water plan contains
protective and rehabilitative management efforts for lakes
in your county.
- Attend planning and zoning
meetings or boards of adjustment to voice concern about
development activity that does not meet local ordinances.
- Get to know your county
commissioners, share your concerns with them.
8.
Become part of the
local decision making process.
- Support your local lake
association and county coalition of lake associations (if
organized).
- Become part of the
decision-making process for local land use ordinances—serve
on the township board, soil and water conservation district
board, water planning board, or other local government
committees and appointed commissions.
9. Make your concerns known to state and
federal legislators.
10.
Support the
Minnesota Lakes Association. Join MLA Today!
Working together—at the local,
county and state level—
we can make a
difference. |
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