Why are lawns and gardens a potential problem?
Homeowners commonly over apply fertilizer, adding much more nitrogen and phosphorus to a lawn than it will use.  Many front yards along Pend Oreille have lawns that go right up to the lakeshore with no buffer strips.  Excess nutrients or pesticides are either washed, or carried by shallow ground water, into the lake by rain or heavy irrigating.

Lawns and gardens near Lake Pend Oreille or any of its tributaries must be carefully planned and maintained to prevent possible contamination of surface waters.  Native vegetation should be considered as a quality alternative to cultured lawns and landscapes.  Landscapes will revert to a native state if no maintenance is performed; planting native vegetation will hasten the process.

The Lake Pend Oreille Management Plan discourages the use of pesticides and fertilizers within 20 feet of surface waters.  This ensures that over-spray or the spread of granules will not fall directly into the lake or streams.

What is Lake*A*Syst?
Lake Assessment System (Lake*A*Syst) is a voluntary program designed to help you protect Lake Pend Oreille by reducing pollution risks associated with the proper use of pesticides, fertilizers, and irrigation water.

1. Use the factsheet and the associated worksheet (highlighted in yellow) to assess stormwater runoff from your property.

2. Review the Action Checklist (at the back of the worksheet summary) to inventory contamination sources, and to help you.

3. Take Action to protect the Lake, by using Best Management Practices found in Lake*A*Syst.

How do I complete the worksheet?

After reviewing the information provided, go to the worksheet and check what applies to you.  This should take about 15 to 30 minutes to complete the worksheet and summarize your risk rankings.

Download and Print Lawn and Garden Management Fact/Worksheet
 

Further Reading

• Bradley, and Ellis, The Organic Gardeners Handbook of Natural Insect and Disease Control. Rodale Press. 1984 

• Ellis, Barbara W, Rodales Encyclopedia of Gardening and Landscaping Techniques. Rodale Press 1990

• Greenwood ,Holstead, Chase and Gilrein.. American Horticultural Society Pests and Diseases. Dorling Kindersley Publishing  2000

• Mollison, Bill, Introduction To Permaculture. Tagari Publications, Tasmania 1991

• Worth, Thomas, The Victory Garden Landscape Guide, Little Brown and company, Canada, 1984