Watershed Watch
The Goldsmith Inlet – Watershed
Watch has been implemented to help educate neighbors and visitors about
environmental, health and safety practices. Since 2009, Homeowner Tips
(below) have been distributed to more than 2,000 residences. Other issues
including parking, shellfishing and littering are
addressed on an ongoing basis.
Tips to improve the health of Goldsmith
Inlet
- Reduce or eliminate pesticide and fertilizer use. Pesticides kill pond life; fertilizers cause algae
blooms that choke oxygen levels. Low oxygen kills wildlife.
- Switch to phosphorus-free laundry detergent. Phosphorous causes algae blooms that choke oxygen
levels.
- Pick up after your pets. The nitrogen in dog poop also causes algae blooms.
Don't feed waterfowl, their poop can't be scooped.
- Keep septic tanks maintained properly. Septic leaks can cause the lethal bacteria E. coli
to leak into the water and cause beach closures.
- Allow small riparian zones in your garden/lawn. Allow native plants to grow to better filter
pollutants out of the water. Plant rain gardens for storm water runoff.
- Do not plant non-native species of plants. Stop this to prevent invasive species from taking
over. Native plants require less water.
- Don't litter.
Litter harms the water and the animals that live in and around it.
- Don't wash cars in driveways or on lawns. The runoff increases algae growth.
- Maintain lawn mowers and cars to prevent oil or gas
spills. Spills kill the plants and
animals in the water and can make the water unsafe to swim in.
- Install gutters and drywells. Control storm water runoff from roofs.
Jim Ochterski,
et al. (2007), The Pond
Guidebook. (NRAES). Cornell Cooperative Extension, Ithaca, New
York
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