Do not fertilize or mow adjacent to waterways by leaving a “ring of responsibility” of at least 10 feet. Leave a “buffer zone”—a strip of unmanaged grasses or natural vegetation—to grow around the shoreline.

This vegetation will help prevent soil erosion and will also remove and retain some of the pollutants that would otherwise enter the waterway.

Blooms of algae can be caused by too many nutrients in our ponds, lakes and bays. Not only are algae unpleasant to look at and smell but they can cause fish kills because the algae is consuming all the dissolved oxygen necessary for the fish to live. Algae blooms can have a negative effect on recreation, the economy and human health.