Humans have lived on our lake for millennia. We often wonder what theses early Native Americans would think of their lake and our stewardship of it if they could see it now with some 600 camps and houses along it. Our lake is getting older and has some health problems -invasive species, harmful algae, toxic runoff, erosion, and more. Some of these have the potential to end the recreational use of the lake as we know it. The following is a list of practices that make a lake healthy.  We hope you find some that you can use on your property for the betterment of our lake. We would like to know which actions you have been able to take for our lake and acknowledge you on our website list of lake friendly property owners who have taken the pledge! If you have additional suggestions that should be featured on this pledge, please let us know. We would love to look into them and possibly add them!

KEEP NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS OUT OF THE LAKE
   - Maintain your septic system
   - Minimize fertilizer use and use only phosphorus free fertilizer
   - Pick up pet poop and dispose of it in the trash
   - Keep fire pits more than 50 feet from the lake and dispose of the ashes where they won’t leach into the lake

LAKE FRIENDLY LAWN CARE
   - Maintain a buffer of native plants along your shoreline
   - Mow grass no shorter than 3 inches
   - Mulch or compost leaves, clippings, and yard waste
   - Avoid or minimize use of fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides
   - Patch bare spots
   - Reduce lawn size – plant a rain garden instead

PROTECT THE LAKE’S INHABITANTS
  -  Do not flush medications
  -  Dispose of household hazardous wastes so they do not wind up in the lake
  -  Avoid or minimize use of fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides
  - Avoid fluid leaks from watercraft and other vehicles
  - Keep plastic out of the lake – recycle, do not litter

REDUCE WATER RUNOFF
  -  Reduce impermeable surfaces
  - Install a rain barrel to catch your gutter water
  - Wash your vehicles and watercraft at the car wash, not in your driveway

KEEP OUT INVASIVE SPECIES
  - Clean, drain, and dry your watercraft and trailers
  - Scatter potassium chloride tablets in your kayak
  - Do not dump unused live bait in the lake

Thanks for considering these best practices for a healthy lake. We would like to hear from you about any you have implemented so we can acknowledge your contribution on our website. If you have any questions or would like more information, email CLIA at info@canadaragolake.com or message us on social media.