It’s well demonstrated that successful watershed improvement programs have active citizens who care about their watershed. Achieving water quality improvements often is traceable to citizens who not only care but insure that private and governmental leaders are committed to improving their watershed.

TAKE THESE STEPS:

• Become a voice for your watershed
• Act and become involved in your Grand Lake watershed
• Become knowledgeable about pollution threats
• Realize our watershed has a major economic impact in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Arkansas and is worthy of preserving and protecting
• Find out what future plans, projects, and priorities are in place that will cause water quality improvements
• Join an existing local watershed group or help to establish a local watership if one does not exist.
• Join and support this Foundation

HELP REDUCE THE PHOSPHOROUS POLLUTION THREAT BY:

• Using phosphorous free fertilizers unless soil tests show there is a phosphorous deficiency in your soil. Phosphorous causes algae blooms that materially degrade water quality.
• Using phosphate free detergents in automatic dishwashers. Switch to a brand that says phosphate or phosphorus-free.

HELP REDUCE RISKS FROM TOXIC SUBSTANCES:

• Do not flush medications or pharmaceuticals into toilets or septic. Contact hazardous waste disposal companies or your local law enforcement agency.
• Dispose of oil, paints, chemicals and pharmaceuticals properly. Don’t empty into sewers, septic, or storm drains.

IF YOU ARE IN AGRICULTURE, YOU CAN:

• Test your soil before applying any fertilizers whether commercial or poultry litter
• Use best land management practices as developed by your local Natural Resources Conservation Service office.
• If you are a landowner adjacent to streams, rivers, or lakes, understand riparian areas are important to reduce pollution threats from sediment movement and nutrients such as phosphorous. Plant trees and vegetation to reduce sediment movement and nutrient flow.
• Keep livestock out of riparian areas by fencing or other means.
• Contact your local governmental conservation agency to determine the availability of financial incentives and to provide you with technical advice.

IF YOU OWN A SEPTIC SYSTEM, YOU SHOULD:

• Periodically have it inspected to verify it is operating properly and pump it every several years. Septic systems are a source of bacteria,nutrients, and other pollutants.

IF YOU ARE A COMMUNITY LEADER, YOU SHOULD:

• Insure discharges from local wastewater treatment plants minimize the discharge of nutrients, especially phosphorous.
• Insure your community has an effective water quality education program
• Insure local ordinances are adopted that foster reduction in water pollution caused by storm water runoff, development and construction activities.
• Insure your community is actively engaged in the fight to reduce pollution to our waters.
• Advocate for low-impact development in your community. This is a development or redevelopment approach that manages the impact of storm water by blending development with natural resources.

IF YOU LIVE NEAR A LAKE, STREAM, or RIVER, YOU SHOULD:

• Use only phosphorus-free fertilizers!
• Check and service your septic
• Build a “rain-garden” where concentrations of flowing water directly enter the water-body. The rain-garden uses native vegetation to help reduce water pollution. A rain-garden filters out storm water pollutants before entering the water-body.
• Help stabilize shorelines by planting grasses and other vegetation in buffer strips to prevent erosion
• Do not throw yard waste along banks, shorelines, or into streams, rivers, or lakes

DEVELOPMENT: Development due to population increase and/or other factors will be a natural occurence within the watershed. However, any development brings with it the responsibility to protect our water.