Keep your lake clean: Properly dispose of animal waste (2005-08-01)

We love Minnesota's clean lakes. We can help keep them that way by preventing animal waste from getting into the water. Animal wastes can pose health threats and can add to the nutrient content of our lakes. Whether it is from wildlife, agricultural animals, or domestic pets, animal wastes are NOT good for the lake.

Animal wastes contain bacteria and nutrients such as phosphorus. Bacteria that come from intestinal tracts of warm-blooded animals, such as E coli, can cause health effects such as skin rashes and respiratory and digestive distress.

Public swimming beaches are tested for bacteria and are closed if numbers exceed safe thresholds. But many lakes do not have public beaches and testing programs, so we must do everything we can throughout the watershed to prevent bacteria from entering the lake.

Animal wastes are also high in phosphorus, a nutrient which can increase algae and weed growth and deplete oxygen in the lake. Reduced oxygen can harm fish and aquatic plants. And, reduced clarity in the lake can impact recreational use. No one likes to swim, fish or boat in "pea soup" or murky water.

Here are some tips for keeping animal wastes out of the lake:

While we can't completely control the habits of wild animals like Canada geese, we can discourage them from congregating by keeping natural shorelines and NOT feeding them

Farmers can help by keeping livestock out of lakes, rivers, and streams; and managing manure to avoid runoff

Pet owners can help by picking up all dog and cat (and other pet) wastes (at home and on walks) and properly disposing of it in the garbage or another sanitary method. Don't allow it to accumulate and then runoff with rainwater into lakes, rivers or storm sewers

We can't control the natural deposit of wild animal wastes, so it is important that we prevent wastes from the sources that we can control.

Proper animal waste disposal helps keep lakes clean. For more information on keeping your lake clean, visit www.shorelandmanagement.org. or email the North Central Minnesota Lakes Project (NCML) at lakewaves@dnr.state.mn.us. NCML is part of Governor Pawlenty's Clean Water Initiative.

 

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