The Charles River Lakes District in Massachusetts is a popular destination for canoeists, kayakers and rowers, but the pollution from stormwater runoff resulted in an increase in nutrients resulting in the growth of water chestnut, Eurasian watermilfoil and fanwort which interfered with those activities.

The weed harvesters have will harvest for a few weeks in August before the water chestnuts drop their seeds and will start up again in the spring of 2014.

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A vital part of the area’s watershed, Carter Lake is a natural catch basin for storm runoff and melting snows. Excess nutrients being washed into the lakes leads to excessive aquatic plant growth.

The Aquarius Systems HM-1020 Aquatic Plant Harvester is the perfect solution for Carter Lake. The 1020 easily collected a full 16,000 lbs of cut vegetation in only 20 minutes of harvesting. This harvester holds so many weeds that it took two trucks to accept all of the harvested vegetation.

One major trade-off comes in the form of excess nutrients, specifically nitrogen and phosphorus, that runoff from fertilizers used on local farm fields and from discharges from wastewater treatment plants and factories.

In an effort to make the water safe to drink, Decatur, Illinois constructed a $7.6 million nitrate reduction facility in 2002. But, that does not mean the nutrients have gone away as runoff from farms in the lake’s watershed and wastewater discharge from heavy industry find their way into the lake and, eventually, beyond.

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This year, a different approach was taken. Starting in June, contractors sprayed the lake with a compound called Phoslock, which helps remove phosphorous from the water. Then an aquatic vegetation harvester trawled across the south end of the lake, chopping down underwater weeds and hauling them to shore. The goal – to remove as much phosphorous from the lake as possible.

Sediment in the lake – from decomposing weeds, lawn fertilizer, stormwater runoff – produces excess phosphorous, which acts as fuel for algae blooms. Relatively few outflow points on the lake result in a slow turnover rate of water and poor nutrient cycling, according to a 2011 Kitsap Public Health District report.

The harvester removes plant life and opens the water up to circulation, allowing for the water to mix and more sunlight to reach the deepest parts of the lake

According to to Wisconsin Saltwise, an organization designed to educate Dane County residents and maintenance professionals about road salt safety, it takes one teaspoon of salt to permanently pollute five gallons of water to a level that is toxic for freshwater ecosystems. 

An average of 500 tons of salt a year is put into Lake Mendota during an average winter. Not intentionally of course, but the salt can wash into the lakes when met with rain.

Not only does salt degrade lake ecosystems, but it also diminishes the quality of drinking water.

Read about Madison’s action taken to limit is salt usage.

Researchers examined 371 lakes and found that 44% are at risk of salinization, meaning there is a build of salt in the water table. This excess of salt negatively affects water quality, wildlife and soil.

Salt use has increased dramatically in the past 50 years and the EPA estimates that 22 million tons of salt is applied to roads annually. That salt is washed into lakes, rivers and streams.

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How to Improve Your Properties Shoreline:

• Install a buffer zone – Leave or plant a buffer of natural vegetation can reduce erosion, maintain water quality, and provide habitat for wildlife

• Native plants. Leave or plant native aquatic plants to help support lake wildlife and minimize erosion

• Limit turfgrass- turfgrass has shallow roots and requires lots of maintenance

• Minimize impervious surfaces such as concrete or asphalt- this will decrease the amount of run-off containing chemicals from getting into the lake

• Leave fallen trees- fallen trees in the water will provide habitat for fish and wildlife

• Use minimal sand- minimize the size of your sandy beach to allow for more natural vegetation onshore and in the water

• Practice bioengineering- also known as lakescaping, is a method using native plants, biodegradable products and other natural materials (rock) to provide a stable shoreline

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The relationship between water quality and soil erosion cannot be overemphasized. Soil erosion and residue management, especially surface water runoff, influence water quality. A silt fence, sometimes called a filter fence, is a temporary sediment control barrier used on construction sites to protect water quality in nearby waterways from sediment in stormwater runoff.

The problem with silt fences is that they only filter sand and silt, clay and nutrients flow through the fences.  Placing a berm of compost on the low side of silt fences adds the capacity to filter out clays and nutrients. Compost contains both positive and negative charges that attract both positively and negatively charged elements and clays.

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The city is concerned with the damaging effects of road salt.  It would ultimately get washed into storm drains which flow to a sewer treatment plant.  Will the salt corrode old metro-area pipes? It affects the roads, the steel in the bridges and the concrete and it affects your car.  And, the salt that stays on the roads will eventually get washed into the environment.

Minnesota is beginning to see some of the environmental effects of road salt use. In the Twin Cities metro area, the level of salt (chloride) in 39 surface waters now exceeds water quality standards.  An additional 38 surface waters are almost above the standard and many others remain untested.  Data shows that salt concentrations are continuing to increase in both surface waters and groundwater across the state.

The fact is that it only takes one teaspoon of road salt to permanently pollute 5 gallons of water. Once in the water, there is no way to remove the chloride. At high concentrations, chloride can harm fish, aquatic plant life, groundwater and drinking water supplies.

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Did you know that a typical city block generates more than five times as much rainwater runoff as a forested area of the same size? This is because rooftops and pavement don’t allow water to soak into the ground like forests, wetlands and grasslands do. Instead, rainwater runs off pavement into the nearest storm drain, where it’s transported to local streams, rivers and eventually the ocean. On its way to the storm drain, rainwater picks up pollutants like oil, antifreeze, pet waste, fertilizers and pesticides. In most places, storm water does not get treated, so all of those pollutants end up in local waters.

Using non-toxic house products, not dumping things other than water down storm drains, and not flushing medication down the toilet or sink are just a few things you can do to keep the water in your area clean.

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