The Clean Lakes Alliance is helping Greater Madison residents take simple actions to help the land and the lakes. These actions require little time and money, but can result in a big impact.
In Dane County, there are just over 138,000 single-family homes. Clean Lakes Alliance is hoping each home can do a couple of the following listed items:
- Plant Native & Diverse Vegetation – deep rooted native plants will absorb water, hold topsoil in during rain events, and provide habitat for songbirds & butterflies
- Create a Rain Garden – these gardens will capture harmful runoff, and provide biodiversity for butterflies and bees
- Redirect Downspouts – making sure downspouts are pointed towards lawns and not driveways will reduce storm water runoff to the lakes and provide water for lawns
- Pick Up Pet Waste & Litter – removing pet waste will reduce potential E. coli pollution and picking up ANY litter on a walk will beautify public spaces
- Start Home Composting – food trash and yard waste can turn into nutrient-rich soil that can be used in gardens, planters, or rain gardens
- Install a Rain Barrel – if every home in Dane County installed one rain barrel, it would keep 7.5 million gallons of water out of the storm sewers each rain event
- Plant Home Food Gardens – besides providing food, these gardens also help infiltrate storm water
- Rake for Leaf-Free Streets – raking phosphorus-rich leaves out of the street will help fertilize lawns and not the lakes when it rains
- Reduce Salt Use – shoveling, sand, or limiting salt use can help aquatic plants, which suffer when salt runs into the lakes
- Inspire a Friend or Neighbor – The more actions people take, the more our community can help the land and lakes
People are encouraged to log onto cleanlakesalliance.org/topten and click the blue survey link near the top of the page to share photos and report their projects. Get more info here.
(Photo credit: Getty Images)