Keeping harmful chemicals and excess nutrient runoff out of our watershed is crucial to safeguarding the health of Big Star Lake. The most prevalent causes of excessive lake plant and algae growth are fertilizers and faulty septic system wastes that seep into the water system. The dense vegetation that results, threatens the natural balance of lake plant and aquatic life, thus degrading water quality and accelerating the aging process of the lake.

Helpful tips for safe lawn care:

• Do not use lawn fertilizer that contains phosphorus. Check the middle number on your fertilizer bag, it should be zero. While phosphorous is banned in most residential fertilizers, it can still be purchased and may be used by contractors. If you use a contractor, require them to apply only phosphorus free fertilizer.

• Do not apply lawn fertilizer within 20 feet of any water body unless there is at least a 10-foot buffer of shrubs, trees or other plants between the area you are fertilizing and the water.

• Use fescue grass, rather than bluegrass, for establishing your lawn. Fescue grass requires less than half the nitrogen of a bluegrass lawn.

• Water lawns sparingly to reduce lawn nutrient run-off to the lake. Check your automatic sprinkling system to ensure that its set correctly. Consider limiting the lawn size, or replacing lawn with natural areas that do not require treatments or significant watering.

• Planting greenbelts (strips of ground cover with shrubs and trees) can help preserve the cleanliness and clarity of our lakes. Greenbelt buffers can limit nutrient leaching caused by excessive lawn fertilization and faulty septic systems. Greenbelts also control erosion on sloping banks as vegetation roots help prevent soil erosion caused by water run-off, wind and wave action.

• Reduce or eliminate the use of pesticides, herbicides and other chemicals where possible, and always within the greenbelt areas along the shoreline-usually 50 feet. Consider natural approaches to weed and insect control. If weeds become a problem, apply herbicide treatment in the fall.

• Increase the height of your mower, and mulch clippings to avoid yard waste. Taller grass serves as a better filter for runoff.

• Whenever possible, rake and remove fall leaves from your lawn. This precludes leaves blowing into the lake and increasing nutrients.