With summertime heavy rains and downpours abundant, this is a good time to think about a stormwater pollution prevention plan for erosion and sediment control.
Our fragile lakeshore properties demand the utmost care in managing stormwater runoff to avoid harming our waters. Impervious structures such as pavement on driveways, buildings, and roofs increase the velocity and energy of stormwater. Direct runoff can introduce both nutrients and pathogens to water bodies. One potential effect of this can be an increase in plant and algae growth. Waterfront property values drop dramatically with increased weed and algae presence.
What You Can Do to Help Protect the Upper Saranac Watershed
- Install permeable pavers rather than asphalt for parking;
- Install an infiltration trench to handle runoff from roads or driveways;
- Maintain native vegetative buffers along the lakefront and tributaries using native trees and shrubs;
- Reduce compacted lawns with native plantings, such as trees, shrubs, or pollinator gardens;
- Avoid the use of fertilizers;
- Build a rain garden to capture stormwater runoff from roofs, driveways, and other hard surfaces and filter it into the ground, away from the Lake.
Click here for more information on developing a Stormwater Prevention Plan.
Visit the Upper Saranac Foundation web page for more Lake-Friendly Living ideas: usfoundation.net.