As spring approaches, many people are excited to start projects after a long winter. When making your To-Do lists, consider making your Watershed Clean-Up List too. Here are 10 ways that every homeowner can improve water quality on their property. Every person can make a difference, no matter how big or small.
1. Start a compost pile for leaves, grass clippings and food waste. Plant debris contains a lot of phosphorus and should not be thrown in ditches and streams. Compost piles keep debris out of waterways and are a great fertilizer for gardens and lawns. Contact Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) at 255-1183 for more information.
2. Tune-up your car to prevent leaking fluids and oils from entering sewers and waterways. Contact CCE to be placed on a mailing list to receive information on the 2008 Tire Round-Up.
3. Use Zero-Phosphorus lawn fertilizers on your lawn. Once grass is established, your lawn does not need phosphorus. This fertilizer provides your lawn with the appropriate nutrients it needs without adding phosphorus to the environment. It can be purchased at the Cayuga County Soil and Water Conservation District.
4. Clean up pet waste. Pet waste can be placed in a plastic bag and then into the trash can or flushed down the toilet (remember to remove leaves and twigs before flushing).
5. Have your septic system pumped and inspected. It is recommended that this should be done every three to five years.
6. Plant a rain garden. Rain gardens use plants that tolerate living in wet conditions. By planting them in areas that are prone to being wet or receive a lot of water, like near the downspouts of gutters, the garden is able to absorb the water as well as filter out any harmful chemicals or nutrients. Contact CCE or the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network for information on rain gardens.
7. Keep bare soil covered with mulch and grass seed to prevent erosion. Phosphorus attaches to soil particles. When there is soil erosion, phosphorus is also being transported to local waterbodies.
8. Limit the use of pesticides. Excess chemicals can eventually run into streams and lakes, which are harmful to drinking water supplies, like Owasco Lake.
9. Wash cars, boats, lawn mowers, and other equipment on your lawn instead of your driveway. Grass absorbs the water and detergent which prevents the chemicals from entering streams and ditches.
10. Store old electronics, pool chemicals, garden and lawn poisons, paint thinner, gas/oil mixes, propane tanks and fluorescent bulbs and Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs, which contain mercury, in a safe place.
In the fall, look for the Cayuga County Household Hazardous Waste Day, an opportunity for residents to bring these harmful materials to be properly disposed. Check out this Web site for more information on dates, accepted products, proper disposal of products like latex paint and batteries and past Household Hazardous Waste Days: http://www.cayuganet.org/hazwaste/ or contact CCE to be placed on the mailing list to receive event dates.
Enjoy your spring cleaning. Your watershed will thank you.
Jessica Miles is the Owasco Lake Watershed inspector.
2. Tune-up your car to prevent leaking fluids and oils from entering sewers and waterways. Contact CCE to be placed on a mailing list to receive information on the 2008 Tire Round-Up.
3. Use Zero-Phosphorus lawn fertilizers on your lawn. Once grass is established, your lawn does not need phosphorus. This fertilizer provides your lawn with the appropriate nutrients it needs without adding phosphorus to the environment. It can be purchased at the Cayuga County Soil and Water Conservation District.
4. Clean up pet waste. Pet waste can be placed in a plastic bag and then into the trash can or flushed down the toilet (remember to remove leaves and twigs before flushing).
5. Have your septic system pumped and inspected. It is recommended that this should be done every three to five years.
6. Plant a rain garden. Rain gardens use plants that tolerate living in wet conditions. By planting them in areas that are prone to being wet or receive a lot of water, like near the downspouts of gutters, the garden is able to absorb the water as well as filter out any harmful chemicals or nutrients. Contact CCE or the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network for information on rain gardens.
7. Keep bare soil covered with mulch and grass seed to prevent erosion. Phosphorus attaches to soil particles. When there is soil erosion, phosphorus is also being transported to local waterbodies.
8. Limit the use of pesticides. Excess chemicals can eventually run into streams and lakes, which are harmful to drinking water supplies, like Owasco Lake.
9. Wash cars, boats, lawn mowers, and other equipment on your lawn instead of your driveway. Grass absorbs the water and detergent which prevents the chemicals from entering streams and ditches.
10. Store old electronics, pool chemicals, garden and lawn poisons, paint thinner, gas/oil mixes, propane tanks and fluorescent bulbs and Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs, which contain mercury, in a safe place.
In the fall, look for the Cayuga County Household Hazardous Waste Day, an opportunity for residents to bring these harmful materials to be properly disposed. Check out this Web site for more information on dates, accepted products, proper disposal of products like latex paint and batteries and past Household Hazardous Waste Days: http://www.cayuganet.org/hazwaste/ or contact CCE to be placed on the mailing list to receive event dates.
Enjoy your spring cleaning. Your watershed will thank you.
Jessica Miles is the Owasco Lake Watershed inspector.