How You Can Help

Businesses, homeowners, and communities can adopt practices that will help reduce nutrient runoff that feeds toxic algal blooms.

Avoid phosphorus - If you fertilize your lawn, use only a non-phosphorus fertilizer. If you hire a lawn care service, have a conversation with the company to make sure it is not applying fertilizers that contain phosphorus. Alternative fertilizers are readily available.

Reduce run off - Reduce the amount of water that runs off your property into storm drains and waterways. Capture rainwater with rain barrels, install terraces on steep slopes, and limit non-porous surfaces.

Septic tank maintenance - Monitor and maintain home septic tank systems to make sure they are functioning properly and not leaking waste.

Farming practices - Farmers can follow best practices such as proper manure storage and disposal, soil testing to avoid overuse of fertilizer, and not applying fertilizer to frozen ground where it is more likely to run off with rain and snow melt.

Reduce lawn size - Consider reducing the size of your lawn. Allow mowed areas that are not actively used as open space to naturalize. Plant more trees and native vegetation, particularly near streams and in naturally wet areas. Vegetated buffer strips provide important habitat for wildlife while filtering nutrients from stormwater.

Save the Lake Coalition, a citizen-led group of volunteers, has partnered with Friends of Medina County Parks to raise funds to help study and manage harmful algal blooms on Chippewa Lake. Contributions to this fund can be made by check payable to Friends of Medina County Parks (with "Save the Lake" in the memo), or online at bitly.com/Save-the-Lake.