Your Actions Matter for our Lakes and Rivers

What can we do?

• Wash the car on the lawn or at a car wash - not in the driveway.
• Pick up after your dog and dispose of the waste.
• Sweep grass clippings off the driveway, sidewalk, curb or other paved areas.  Do not sweep them down the storm drain.  
• Keep leaves out of the street and gutter area. 
• Limit chemical and fertilizer use. Test your soil so you know exact amounts of nutrients needed.   
• Sweep fertilizers off the driveway, sidewalk, curb or other paved areas. Sweep them back into your yard.
• Direct downspouts to the lawn instead of the driveway. 
• Add a rain barrel (or two) to capture runoff.
• Install a rain garden to soak roof runoff into the ground.
• Is salt going to work?  If it is colder than 15 degrees, the salt will not be effective. If you must use a product—use the right product at the right amount.  A single 12oz. cup of salt is enough to cover 10 sidewalk squares or a 20-foot driveway. Extra salt is swept into our waterways damaging the health of our lakes and streams. Learn more about smart salt use at: https://wisaltwise.com/