We are blessed in the north to have thousands
of beautiful, clean lakes. Nearly every one of them provides a
refreshing "cooler" on a hot summers day.
Lakes are living bodies of water. They are
the life's blood of the world. Treat them with care and
respect, and they will stay clean for years to come - for you,
your kids, and your grandkids.
If you are going to spend time at the lake
this summer, here are some tips to keep it clean and
beautiful.
Never put anything in the lake that you would
not put into your mouth! Do you need to wash dishes after
camping out? Take a basin of water far from the edge of the
lake, wash the dishes, then dump the water in a place were
there is plenty of soil. The soil filters water, and the
organisms in the dirt will help to break down the soap.
Need to wash your hair, and there's no
running water at your camp? Use biodegradable shampoo - and
wash far away from the lakeshore! Just as the dishwater needs
to be filtered through the soil, so does the shampoo.
Biodegradable products only work when they come in contact with
dirt, they do not biodegrade in water alone. Would you drink a
glass of water after you washed your hands in it? No! Then
don't wash your hands in the lake! Even if you don't drink the
water from the lake where you camp, chances are good you swim
there.
Here are a few more ideas:
If you use a motorboat with a portable gas
tank, remove it from from the boat and fill it away from the
water. If it is in the boat be extra careful not to spill the
gas when you're filling the tank.
Need a new motor? Buy a four stroke. They
cost more to buy, but they use less gas and no oil in the mix.
They also leave your lake much cleaner.
If you have a property on the lake, get rid
of your lawn. Who wants to spend all that time grooming a lawn
anyways? If you can't face giving up the lawn, then at least
give up a strip of land along the waterfront. Natural
vegetation will help filter out the excess nutrients from the
lawn. A natural shoreline will also withstand the "elements"
better then anything you can build.
Whatever grass you keep, do not use
herbicides, pesticides or fertilizers. You wouldn't want to
swim in that stuff. If it is not kept well away from the water
it will leach into it. You could end up with a weedy lake
instead of a clean clear one. Make sure you have a good septic
system! A good outhouse is better for your lake then a bad
septic system.
Remember water is essential for life. Respect
the lakes and they will provide life and leisure for you for
years to come.
Viki Mather lives by a lake near Sudbury.
