Question Title

* 1. Shoreline Buffer Zone (water's edge to 25-50 ft. landward). What percentage of the buffer is un-mowed and/or includes native grasses, plants, trees, or shrubs?  

TIP:  A lush Shoreline Buffer Zone of native plants prevents harmful runoff of silt and nutrients from entering the lake. The deeper and more extensive the buffer zone, the better it protects lake water quality. If you have an especially deep or diverse buffer zone, thank you! And if not, you can easily build a protective buffer zone by starting small….just stop mowing.

Question Title

* 2. Upland Zone (shoreline buffer to access road). What percentage of the Upland Zone includes trees, shrubs, and natural ground cover?

TIP:  The Upland Zone, especially because it tends to be larger in area than the buffer zone, can be very protective of the lake while also creating biodiversity and wildlife habitat.

Question Title

* 3. Do you use broadcast fertilizer and/or broadcast pesticides such as lawn chemicals, weed killers or mosquito abatement foggers?

TIP:  We highly recommend no broadcast spraying of pesticides or insecticides. Please be kind to pollinators.

Question Title

* 4. Do you use riprap (stones assembled on a lakeshore) to attempt to prevent erosion?

TIP:  Native plants growing in riprap, because of their deep roots, protect the lake from runoff and provide habitat, but they also protect a lakeshore owner’s property against wave action caused by boats or by wind.

Question Title

* 5. Is stormwater runoff getting to the lake from your driveway, roof, pathways, patios or other hard surfaces?  

TIP:   If you go outside during a heavy rain, you will be able to see where the stormwater pools. Rain gardens, usually placed near a source of runoff such as a roof downspout, can collect water during heavy rains so that the runoff can infiltrate the ground.

Question Title

* 6. Do you maintain your septic system according to best management practices, such as pumping every 1-3 years?

TIP:  Leaking or damaged septic systems are one of the largest sources of pollution of our lakes. If you are unsure, learn how your system works and how often it needs to be pumped, so that you can keep waste out of the lake.

Question Title

* 7. Your Name (optional)

Question Title

* 8. Your Lake Address (required if you would like to be on the tour)

Question Title

* 9. Your e-mail address or phone number (optional)

T