How to be good stewards of a lake

How can we be good stewards of OUR LAKES? 

Chemicals

Pike Lake signage & warnings

• redirecting drains and downspouts away from the lake. Any steps that increase the time taken for water runoff to reach the lake will promote absorption of the nutrients by the soil.
• by using phosphate-free detergents and vegetable based soaps and shampoos in septic systems
• by not using chemically produced fertilizers on lawns or gardens
• by maintaining properly functioning and set back septic systems.

• Don't clean anything, including yourself, in the lake.
• Do clean your boats away from the lake, before launching in a new lake system.
• Contaminants and nutrients from soaps, lawn fertilizer, pesticides and herbicides, car and boat wash soap products, faulty septic runoff, and pet waste must be kept out of the lake.

As well, we must work with the local municipalities to encourage land and water use policies that support lake health.

Protect shorelines and habitat

• by saving or recreating shoreline vegetation buffer zones.
• Limit shoreline structures (docks, rafts) that produce hardened zones where waves are deflected rather than absorbed. 
• Respect shallow lakeshore vegetation where sunfish spawn, minnows feed, and lake life seeks protection from prey and humans.
• cease brush cutting and lawns on shorelines to limit silt and erosion
• leave beaver dams alone. It's the law.

Boat wash hits a hard surface - human-made abiotic materials, and builds up energy destroying plant and other biotic life in the shallow shore. The vegetation below can be washed away. This is where minnows live, larger fish and heron swim and hunt.