The residents that live along our county's rivers, streams, and lakes have a special responsibility to protect this valuable resource. Riparian resident's actions can have an immediate impact upon the water resources due to their close proximity.

Careless use of toxic materials such as herbicides, pesticides, deck cleaners and stains can and will result in these materials ending up in the lakes and rivers. Fertilizer should not be used within a 20 foot buffering strip of the shoreline. Disposing of used motor oil in the ground is illegal and can slowly migrate toward surface or ground waters.

Maintenance of an on-site wastewater disposal system (septic system) is critical in shoreline areas. Regular pump-outs of the septic tank every 2 - 4 years will help the system breakdown bacteria and pathogens, as well as minimize nutrients entering the ground water/surface water hydrological system.

The pleasure and beauty of living near water also entails an obligation to protect the very thing that attracts you. An ounce of prevention is literally worth a pound of cure. Water resources, once polluted, are extremely expensive and time consuming to clean up.