A message focused on Season of Creation, Immersion in Living Water
What can we do to help protect the Willamette and McKenzie Rivers? The short answer is to prevent polluted runoff —especially nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment—from running into your local creeks from our streets, parking lots, and rooftops. Pollutants like pet waste, sediment, fertilizers, pesticides, oil, and automotive fluids.
- No hazardous waste (pet waste, sediment, fertilizers, pesticides, paint, oil, and automotive fluids) poured down the house or storm drain.
- Don’t use lawn fertilizers or weed killers with nitrogen.
- Get an annual septic system inspection.
- Plant native plants.
- Don’t flush medications.
- Keep your car in good repair so it isn’t leaking any fluids or leaving tire shreds on the road. Use biodegradable soap to wash it.
- Install rain water harvesting systems (rain barrels or rain gardens).
- Use permeable pavers that allow runoff to soak into the ground and be filtered naturally rather than runoff into the nearest storm drain.
- Plant trees. Besides providing oxygen to the atmosphere, trees hold soil in place with their roots, preventing erosion.
- Choose eco-friendly and biodegradable cleaning products that do not contaminate the water supply with bleach or ammonia. Common household supplies like white vinegar and baking soda can be used for everything (from washing windows to scrubbing bathroom tiles.)
- Clean up after pets. Animal waste carries harmful bacteria that can contaminate local water supplies if not properly disposed of.
- Use less plastic. Many plastics break down into harmful microplastics. Use reusable bags, bottles, and containers.
- Contain and compost yard waste. Large quantities of sticks, leaves, and grass clippings can overwhelm storm drains.
- Participate in our river and beach cleanups. Remove litter from waterways to help prevent it from entering larger bodies of water, potentially harming marine life and contaminating our water sources.
Do you have Personal Green Choices to share with all of us? I will collect them for future segments. Contact Marilyn Flick using the Contact Us Form.
