August is National Water Quality Awareness Month, making it a great time to think about how the choices we make every day can affect the health of Hayden Lake.

We still have several weeks of summer to enjoy. Whether you live near Hayden Lake or are visiting for the season, live within the watershed or right on the shoreline, or help care for someone else’s property, you have a role to play in protecting the clean, clear water that makes Hayden Lake such a special place.

The good news? Many lake-friendly choices are simple. And while one small action may seem like it makes little difference, the combined efforts of our community can have a powerful impact.

Every Drop Counts

Everything that happens within the Hayden Lake watershed can ultimately affect the lake. Water running off lawns, driveways, patios and other surfaces can carry nutrients, chemicals, sediment and other pollutants with it.

By making thoughtful choices around our homes and properties, we can help reduce that runoff and conserve the water we all depend on.

Here are some simple ways to make your home and yard more lake-friendly.

Conserve Water

August is a good reminder to use water wisely, especially during a drought year. Small changes to our daily habits can add up to significant water savings across the community.

Start with simple steps:

• Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth.
• Skip rinsing dirty dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. Scrape them and let the dishwasher do the work.
• Avoid unnecessary outdoor watering and follow local water conservation recommendations.

Keep Chemicals and Nutrients Out of the Lake

What goes onto your property can eventually make its way into the lake through stormwater runoff.

Fertilizers are an important example. Excess nutrients, particularly phosphorus, can contribute to unwanted plant and algae growth in waterways.

To help protect Hayden Lake:

• Never apply fertilizer within the Shoreline Management Area, which extends 25 feet from the high-water mark.
• When fertilizer is appropriate for your property, choose a phosphorus-free product.
• Avoid fertilizing before rain.
• Don’t overwater after applying fertilizer. Excess water can carry nutrients away from your lawn and toward the lake.

A little planning can go a long way toward keeping nutrients where they belong: helping your plants grow rather than feeding unwanted growth in the lake.

Let the Landscape Help

Your yard can be part of the solution.

Native grasses, flowers, shrubs, and trees are well suited to local conditions and can help stabilize soil, slow runoff, and filter water before it reaches the lake.

When planning landscaping projects, consider choosing permeable materials for driveways, walkways and patios. Unlike traditional hard surfaces, permeable materials allow more water to soak into the ground rather than running directly across the surface.

And when it comes to cleaning those surfaces, grab a broom before the hose. Sweeping your driveway or patio instead of hosing it down reduces water use and helps prevent pollutants from being washed into storm drains and waterways.

Wash Your Car at a Car Wash

Washing a car on a paved driveway may seem harmless, but the water can carry detergents, dirt, oil, and other chemicals into nearby storm drains and waterways.

Instead, take your car to a commercial car wash. Many commercial facilities are designed to manage wastewater appropriately, helping keep those pollutants out of the watershed.

Pick Up After Your Pets

Pet waste isn’t just unpleasant to step on. It can also introduce nutrients and bacteria into the environment when it is left on the ground and washed away by rain or irrigation.

Always pick up after your pets and dispose of waste properly. It’s a small habit that helps protect our water quality.

Take Care of Your Septic System

For properties with septic systems, regular maintenance is an important part of protecting groundwater and surface water.

A properly maintained septic system helps keep nutrients, bacteria, and other contaminants from reaching the lake. Follow recommended maintenance schedules and address problems promptly.

Good septic habits protect more than your property. They help protect Hayden Lake, too.

Dispose of Household Chemicals Properly

Never pour household chemicals or other hazardous materials down a drain, onto the ground or into a storm drain.

Items such as:

• Medications
• Motor oil
• Antifreeze
• Leftover paint
• Cleaning chemicals
• Other household hazardous waste

should be disposed of through appropriate collection or disposal programs.

Keeping these materials out of the watershed helps protect both water quality and the environment.

Our Community and Our Water Quality Go Hand in Hand

Protecting Hayden Lake isn’t the responsibility of one person, one property owner, or one organization. It is something we can accomplish together.

Every time we conserve water, reduce runoff, choose lake-friendly landscaping, properly maintain a septic system or dispose of chemicals responsibly, we are making a choice that can benefit the lake.

One action may seem small. But when residents, visitors, and property owners throughout the Hayden Lake watershed make those choices together, the impact adds up.

As we enjoy the rest of summer, let’s remember that caring for Hayden Lake starts at home, in our yards and with the everyday choices we make.

Every drop counts. And every choice matters.