Keeping Our Waters Clean and Safe

Summer in Michigan is a prime and sublime time. Unparalleled pastoral beauty, abundant parkland, well-maintained campgrounds and a bounty of beautiful lakes and rivers for swimming, boating or fishing abound. Here in Oakland County we are blessed with some 1400 lakes, more than any county in Michigan. 
With Memorial Day just behind us, and the 4th of July just ahead, this might be a good time for all of us to give some serious thought to what we can personally do to fight pollution and keep our waters clean and safe. For  waterfront property owners, I would encourage them to survey their tract of land and ask certain questions such as: How does my waterfront look?; Is the streamline or shoreline eroded?; Are tree roots exposed What about the water itself? Are there algal blooms? Does the water look murky?

In other words take stock of your property to determine if it is an impediment or asset to the environment. As concerned citizens, who want to be good environmental stewards, it is important to be aware of the dangers posed by rain and snow melt which causes contaminated water runoff to make its way from rooftops, streets, driveways and lawns, as it moves across the landscape and picks up along the way various pollutants like oils, greases, nutrients, fertilizers and sediment. These undesirable elements, known as non-point source pollution, can easily find their way to the nearest storm water drainage system and eventually into our rivers, lakes and streams.

The problem is even more acute for waterfront property owners since this non-point source pollution has only a short distance to travel before it reaches the lake or river. The good news is there are a number of things waterfront property owners can do to mitigate the potential for contaminated water to reach the water. 

Redirect downspouts away from hard, paved surfaces into vegetated areas, such as a rain garden, or into a rain barrel for use in the garden later on. Take preventative measures to control upland, shoreline and streambank erosion by utilizing natural materials like wildflowers, grasses and shrubs to stabilize these areas.

Properly fertilizing, mowing and watering practices will result in a high quality turf that protects water quality by reducing storm water runoff, thereby minimizing soil erosion and improving water infiltration into the soil. In addition, you should have your soil tested every 2 to 3 years since most soils in Southeast Michigan have shown high levels of phosphorous present, which can cause plants to grow poorly and even die. Excessive phosphorous in the soil reduces the plant’s ability to take up the required micronutrients, primarily iron and zinc.

Contaminants can be prevented from seeping into the  waterway on the edge of your property by erectinga a vegetative barrier of trees, shrubs, taller grasses and wildflowers between the shoreline and upland areas. Start simple by mowing to the water’s edge and and allow a strip of grass, called a no-mow zone, to grow between the yard and the shoreline or streambank. As a result, native plant seeds that have been dormant in the soil will germinate and valuable native plants will begin to sprout on their own. 

Another way to properly protect your waterfront property from pollution is to manage home, yard and animal waste. Don’t burn yard waste adjacent to waterways, pick up pet waste promptly and dispose of it in the trash, use non-toxic cleaning alternatives whenever possible such as common household products like white vinegar, baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. Get into the habit of recycling hazardous waste at designated drop-off sites, which are listed at www.oakgov.com/waste.

A properly maintained septic system is a must for keeping pollutants out of waterways. Septic systems should be inspected every two to three years  by a reputable septic tank service contractor. When necessary, usually about every 3 to 5 years, have your septic tank pumped out.

One final suggestion for preserving your waterfront property is to carefully select and use non-toxic cleaners on boats and vehicles to protect water quality. Close inspection of boats and trailers prior to moving them to other bodies of water is critical to guard against the spread of aquatic invasive species, which can wreak havoc on our eco-system.

The job of keeping our waterways clean, safe and free of pollution is everyone’s responsibility, not just those of us at the Oakland County Resource Commissioner’s Office. We cannot do it alone. We need your help. By working together, we can leave our environment in better shape than we found it for those who come after us.