1) Pump your septic tank regularly.

2) Cut your grass 3 inches high - leave the clippings on the lawn - and don't fertilize it unless a soil test proves you need to.  See  the next page on "Lake Friendly Lawn Care."

3) Pick up pet waste. Pet waste contains phosphorus that can run off into streams and lakes with storm water.  Never drop pet waste into streets or ditches.

4)Don't feed ducks or geese along the shoreline.  It's very bad for them and concentrates their excretia (that's phosphorus again!) where it will make the water plants grow.  And it's unhealthy for you to swim in it!

5)  Wash the car at the car wash, not in your yard. 

6)  Take care of your own storm water.  Create pervious surfaces so stormwater can infiltrate into your lawn.  You can even create a "rain garden" by following the directions on the Create a Rain Garden page.

7) Natural beaches are best - breakwalls provide no habitat for aquatic life.

8) Empty bait buckets on the shore - invasive species travel in bait buckets and on boats.

9)  Slow down when driving snowy roads in the winter.  Road salt enters the lake when the snow melts and travels down the tributaries to the lake.  Sensible salting requires sensible driving.  

10)  Teach your children,  grandchildren and neighbors to love the lake and respect it as a fragile, finite resource that should be passed along to the next generation in as good shape as you found it.

             DEC Spill Hotline  1-800-457-7362

Use the hotline 24 hrs. a day, 7 days a week to report spills.  If the spill is located within the watershed, the DEC will immediately contact our Watershed Inspector, George Barden.

THE HEALTH OF OUR LAKE IS UP TO ALL OF US!