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WHAT CAN IMPACT OUR WATER QUALITY?
WATERSHED
The watershed is the area of land around the lake whose water drains to the lake.
The Big Arbor Vitae Lake System has a relatively small watershed. Because of its small watershed, our shoreland and lake use can significantly impact lake water quality, fisheries, and wildlife habitat.
PHOSPHORUS
Phosphorus is a naturally occurring element and fertilizer. It is essential to all lakes' aquatic plant growth at the correct concentrations. Preventing nuisance levels of weeds and algae requires keeping phosphorus on the land and out of our lake.
How does phosphorus enter Big Arbor Vitae Lake?
Rain - The largest source of phosphorus in our lake comes directly from particles in the rain.
Leaves - Raked or blown into the lake are like brewing phosphorus tea.
Fertilizer - Only starter fertilizers are allowed to contain phosphorus; however, nitrogen is another element in fertilizer that stimulates aquatic plant growth.
Soil Erosion - Soil also naturally contains phosphorus. Therefore, bare soil containing phosphorus-packed particles will likely wash into the lake.
WHAT CAN YOU PERSONALLY DO?
Embrace the goal of protecting the lake
Take the Pledge - Become A Lake Steward. It's not someone else's responsibility to preserve the health of our beloved Big Arb - it's yours, and it's mine. So, keep the water in big Arb clean for generations to come.
Follow the 10 simple steps. By taking The Pledge, you're committing to take steps on your property and the water that makes a big difference on Big Arbor Vitae Lake.
1. CAPTURE WATER RUNOFF BEFORE IT REACHES THE LAKE
Ideally, property owners capture water runoff before it reaches the lake. Install a rain garden in your yard using native plants. Rain gardens can slow water flow, allowing the water to soak into the ground rather than flow to the lake. Rain barrels also help capture the water draining from your roof. Use the water in your rain barrel to water the plants in your yard.
2. DON'T MOW TO THE EDGE OF THE WATER
Natural shorelands contain a lush mixture of native grasses, flowers, shrubs, and trees that help to reduce and filter polluted water runoff and provide essential habitats for songbirds and other animals on the land and in the water.
The easiest and least expensive way to filter water runoff and establish critical habitat for bees, butterflies, and wildlife is to establish a "no mow" area or plant a natural garden from the water's edge to your lawn. The WDNR recommends a minimum 10 to 35-foot buffer between your lawn and the lake.
In contrast, lawns to the water's edge provide habitat for geese and create much more runoff that carries pollutants into the lake.
3. MINIMIZE OR ELIMINATE CHEMICAL AND FERTILIZER USE
While it's probably apparent that chemical and fertilizer drainage are toxic to our lake, be sure the runoff water is filtered through no-mow or native shoreland plantings. So, step three is to minimize or eliminate chemicals and fertilizers used in your yard. In addition, insecticides and pesticides kill bees, butterflies, and birds, so cease or reduce their use.
4. DON'T RAKE OR BLOW LEAVES INTO THE LAKE
Leaves provide natural winter protection for butterflies, moths, bumble bees, and beneficial critters like beetles, millipedes, and spiders. If you have an abundance of leaves, rake them into shrubs, trees, flowers, or vegetable gardens. The leaves suppress weeds and insulate the roots.
Leaves blown into the lake act like a brewed cup of phosphorus tea, encouraging aquatic plant and algae growth. Preventing nuisance levels of plants and algae requires keeping phosphorus on land and out of the lake.
5. ELIMINATE BARE SOIL SPOTS ON YOUR PROPERTY
Soil also naturally contains phosphorus. Therefore, bare soil containing phosphorus-packed particles produces phosphorus-fueled water runoff.
6. REDUCE ROAD SALT USE
A 12-ounce cup of salt (the size of a standard coffee cup) is enough to treat 20 feet of your driveway. The message is to use salt sparingly and investigate other methods to reduce slippery surfaces. Remember, everything on land ends up in the water, and increased salt concentrations are toxic to aquatic life.
7. MAINTAIN YOUR SEPTIC SYSTEM
Just like owning a car, there are services required for septic systems to prevent premature failure. Septic seepage can also run into the lake under the ground. This waste acts like a fertilizer, which will also cause an increase in weeds and algae growth. Have your septic system pumped or inspected every three years by a professional. If you don't recall the last time someone checked your septic system, please schedule an inspection.
8. ALLOW NATIVE AQUATIC PLANTS AND FALLEN WOOD TO REMAIN IN THE LAKE
Action step eight is another simple, no-cost, effective way to better the health of our lake: allow native aquatic plants and fallen wood/trees to remain in the lake. Below the water, this wood acts as feeding, breeding, and nesting areas for all critters - from fish to songbirds. Above the water, ducks, geese, turtles, and other creatures use the wood to sun themselves.
9. BOATING STEWARDSHIP
Enjoy boating in deep enough water to ensure your boat's wake does not cause shoreline erosion and the propeller wash does not adversely impact water vegetation or wildlife habitat areas.
10. RESPECT THE WILDLIFE ON THE LAKE
Enjoy the scenery and wildlife on the lake; do not chase, harass, or disturb wildlife with your watercraft.
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WHY PROTECT THE BIG ARBOR VITAE LAKE SYSTEM?
Big Arbor Vitae Lake is designated an Outstanding Resource Waters (ORW) by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). To receive the ORW designation, a lake must meet three criteria:
1. Provide outstanding recreational opportunities
2. Support valuable fisheries and wildlife habitat
3. Have good water quality
Fewer than 1 percent of all Wisconsin lakes, rivers, and streams have received this designation. We must work as a community to preserve this incredible body of water we call home.
WHAT CAN IMPACT OUR WATER QUALITY?
WATERSHED
The watershed is the area of land around the lake whose water drains to the lake.
The Big Arbor Vitae Lake System has a relatively small watershed. Because of its small watershed, our shoreland and lake use can significantly impact lake water quality, fisheries, and wildlife habitat.
PHOSPHORUS
Phosphorus is a naturally occurring element and fertilizer. It is essential to all lakes' aquatic plant growth at the correct concentrations. Preventing nuisance levels of weeds and algae requires keeping phosphorus on the land and out of our lake.
How does phosphorus enter Big Arbor Vitae Lake?
Rain - The largest source of phosphorus in our lake comes directly from particles in the rain.
Leaves - Raked or blown into the lake are like brewing phosphorus tea.
Fertilizer - Only starter fertilizers are allowed to contain phosphorus; however, nitrogen is another element in fertilizer that stimulates aquatic plant growth.
Soil Erosion - Soil also naturally contains phosphorus. Therefore, bare soil containing phosphorus-packed particles will likely wash into the lake.
WHAT CAN YOU DO PERSONALLY?
Embrace the goal of protecting the lake
Take the Pledge - Become A Lake Steward. It's not someone else's responsibility to preserve the health of our beloved Big Arb - it's yours, and it's mine. So, keep the water in big Arb clean for generations to come.
Follow the 10 simple steps. By taking The Pledge, you're committing to take steps on your property and the water that makes a big difference on Big Arbor Vitae Lake.
1. CAPTURE WATER RUNOFF BEFORE IT REACHES THE LAKE
Ideally, property owners capture water runoff before it reaches the lake. Install a rain garden in your yard using native plants. Rain gardens can slow water flow, allowing the water to soak into the ground rather than flow to the lake. Rain barrels also help capture the water draining from your roof. Use the water in your rain barrel to water the plants in your yard.
2. DON'T MOW TO THE EDGE OF THE WATER
Natural shorelands contain a lush mixture of native grasses, flowers, shrubs, and trees that help to reduce and filter polluted water runoff and provide essential habitats for songbirds and other animals on the land and in the water.
The easiest and least expensive way to filter water runoff and establish critical habitat for bees, butterflies, and wildlife is to establish a "no mow" area or plant a natural garden from the water's edge to your lawn. The WDNR recommends a minimum 10 to 35-foot buffer between your lawn and the lake.
In contrast, lawns to the water's edge provide habitat for geese and create much more runoff that carries pollutants into the lake.
3. MINIMIZE OR ELIMINATE CHEMICAL AND FERTILIZER USE
While it's probably apparent that chemical and fertilizer drainage are toxic to our lake, be sure the runoff water is filtered through no-mow or native shoreland plantings. So, step three is to minimize or eliminate chemicals and fertilizers used in your yard. In addition, insecticides and pesticides kill bees, butterflies, and birds, so cease or reduce their use.
4. DON'T RAKE OR BLOW LEAVES INTO THE LAKE
Leaves provide natural winter protection for butterflies, moths, bumble bees, and beneficial critters like beetles, millipedes, and spiders. If you have an abundance of leaves, rake them into shrubs, trees, flowers, or vegetable gardens. The leaves suppress weeds and insulate the roots.
Leaves blown into the lake act like a brewed cup of phosphorus tea, encouraging aquatic plant and algae growth. Preventing nuisance levels of plants and algae requires keeping phosphorus on land and out of the lake.
5. ELIMINATE BARE SOIL SPOTS ON YOUR PROPERTY
Soil also naturally contains phosphorus. Therefore, bare soil containing phosphorus-packed particles produces phosphorus-fueled water runoff.
6. REDUCE ROAD SALT USE
A 12-ounce cup of salt (the size of a standard coffee cup) is enough to treat 20 feet of your driveway. The message is to use salt sparingly and investigate other methods to reduce slippery surfaces. Remember, everything on land ends up in the water, and increased salt concentrations are toxic to aquatic life.
7. MAINTAIN YOUR SEPTIC SYSTEM
Just like owning a car, there are services required for septic systems to prevent premature failure. Septic seepage can also run into the lake under the ground. This waste acts like a fertilizer, which will also cause an increase in weeds and algae growth. Have your septic system pumped or inspected every three years by a professional. If you don't recall the last time someone checked your septic system, please schedule an inspection.
8. ALLOW NATIVE AQUATIC PLANTS AND FALLEN WOOD TO REMAIN IN THE LAKE
Action step eight is another simple, no-cost, effective way to better the health of our lake: allow native aquatic plants and fallen wood/trees to remain in the lake. Below the water, this wood acts as feeding, breeding, and nesting areas for all critters - from fish to songbirds. Above the water, ducks, geese, turtles, and other creatures use the wood to sun themselves.
9. BOATING STEWARDSHIP
Enjoy boating in deep enough water to ensure your boat's wake does not cause shoreline erosion and the propeller wash does not adversely impact water vegetation or wildlife habitat areas.
10. RESPECT THE WILDLIFE ON THE LAKE
Enjoy the scenery and wildlife on the lake; do not chase, harass, or disturb wildlife with your watercraft.
Big Arbor Vitae Lake is designated an Outstanding Resource Waters (ORW) by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). To receive the ORW designation, a lake must meet three criteria:
1. Provide outstanding recreational opportunities
2. Support valuable fisheries and wildlife habitat
3. Have good water quality
Fewer than 1 percent of all Wisconsin lakes, rivers, and streams have received this designation. We must work as a community to preserve this incredible body of water we call home.