Lakes are the gems of our landscape; the perfect spots for a summer swim, a fishing trip, or just enjoying the view. However, there’s a sneaky problem threatening these beautiful places… stormwater runoff. It happens whenever rain or melting snow flows over the ground instead of soaking in. While that sounds natural enough, the way we’ve built our towns and cities has turned this simple process into a source of pollution for our water.
The ground in a forest or a meadow acts like a giant sponge, soaking up rain and naturally cleaning it as it filters down to the groundwater. In our neighborhoods though, we’re surrounded by “impervious” surfaces such as pavement, roofs, and driveways that water just can’t get through. Instead of soaking in, the water picks up speed and volume as it rushes toward the nearest lake, bringing a whole lot of trouble with it.
The Trouble with Runoff: What It Does to Lake Life
The biggest issue is that runoff acts like a conveyor belt for junk. As it flows, it grabs everything in its path: oil from cars, chemicals, litter, and heavy metals. All of that goes straight into the lake without being cleaned first. Even worse, it carries fertilizers and organic waste with it, which are full of nitrogen and phosphorus. These nutrients are like super-food for algae, causing massive blooms that suck the oxygen out of the water. When that happens, fish and other aquatic life can’t breathe, creating “dead zones.”
It’s not just about chemicals, there’s a physical toll, too. Dirt and mud from construction sites or bare patches of ground wash into the lake, making the water cloudy. This turbidity blocks the sunlight that underwater plants need to grow. When those plants die off, the lake loses its natural oxygen source and habitat. Plus, as all that sediment settles on the bottom, it can bury the gravel where fish lay their eggs. This physical breakdown is often made worse by the introduction of invasive species, which we detailed in a previous article.
What We Can Do: Simple Ways to Help
The good news is that we can protect our lakes by dealing with stormwater before it ever reaches the water. A great rule of thumb is to “capture and soak.” You can do this at home by planting a rain garden, or even choosing permeable pavers for your driveway. Simple steps like this help the water soak into the ground right where it falls, letting nature do the filtering for us.
Example of a rain garden
Stopping pollution at the source is another huge help. Everyone can contribute by using less fertilizer and making sure grass clippings and leaves don’t end up in the storm drains. These small changes stop the nutrient overload that fuels algae blooms. It also helps to know how to properly get rid of household chemicals and why keeping our streets clean matters for our water.
Ultimately, keeping our lakes healthy takes the whole community working together. When we adopt simple habits and look out for our local watersheds, we’re making sure our lakes stay vibrant and beautiful for ourselves and for future generations. Our District Board works diligently to monitor and maintain the quality of our beautiful lakes here at Turkey Creek, but we can all do our part as well!