Westglen Woods Newsletter

It has come time to resolve the issue(s) regarding the lake

any and all input is welcome

Thanks,

Paul

537 Stoddard's Mill Dr

Clean Waters Act - Section 319

Everyone!

I have stumbled upon the Clean Waters Act - Section 319 ( CWA-319 ) from the EPA

Polluted Runoff (Nonpoint Source Pollution) - Urban Stormwater Runoff

http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/
http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/cwact.html

Most funding it seems is for State and Local agencies - HOWEVER!!! - I did see 'other organizations' mentioned. Since we are a non-profit organization, we may be able to find some grant money from the Federal Gevernment.

I am continuing my research on CWA-319 and if we can obtain grant money to clean up our lake from 'Urban Stormwater Runoff'

I ask anyone to research and read this website in our quest to clean up the Lake!

Thanks for your time, attention and assistance

Urban Stormwater Runoff - Q&A

Questions and Answers

(taken from EPA's Polluted brochure EPA-841-F-94-005, 1994)


Q: What is nonpoint source pollution?

A: Nonpoint source (NPS) pollution, unlike pollution from industrial and sewage treatment plants, comes from many diffuse sources. NPS pollution is caused by rainfall or snowmelt moving over and through the ground. As the runoff moves, it picks up and carries away natural and human-made pollutants, finally depositing them into lakes, rivers, wetlands, coastal waters, and even our underground sources of drinking water. These pollutants include:

*

Excess fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides from agricultural lands and residential areas;
*

Oil, grease, and toxic chemicals from urban runoff and energy production;
*

Sediment from improperly managed construction sites, crop and forest lands, and eroding streambanks;
*

Salt from irrigation practices and acid drainage from abandoned mines;
*

Bacteria and nutrients from livestock, pet wastes, and faulty septicsystems;

Atmospheric deposition and hydromodification are also sources of nonpoint source pollution.


Q: What are the effects of these pollutants on our waters?

A: States report that nonpoint source pollution is the leading remaining cause of water quality problems. The effects of nonpoint source pollutants on specific waters vary and may not always be fully assessed. However, we know that these pollutants have harmful effects on drinking water supplies, recreation, fisheries, and wildlife.


Q: What causes nonpoint source pollution?

A: We all play a part. Nonpoint source pollution results from a wide variety of human activities on the land. Each of us can contribute to the problem without even realizing it.


Q: What can we do about nonpoint source pollution?

Urban Stormwater Runoff - NPS

* Keep litter, pet wastes, leaves, and debris out of street gutters and storm drains--these outlets drain directly to lake, streams, rivers, and wetlands.

* Apply lawn and garden chemicals sparingly and according to directions.

* Dispose of used oil, antifreeze, paints, and other household chemicals properly, not in storm sewers or drains. If your community does not already have a program for collecting household hazardous wastes, ask your local government to establish one.

* Clean up spilled brake fluid, oil, grease, and antifreeze. Do not hose them into the street where they can eventually reach local streams and lakes.

* Control soil erosion on your property by planting ground cover and stabilizing erosion-prone areas.

* Encourage local government officials to develop construction erosion/sediment control ordinances in your community.

* Have your septic system inspected and pumped, at a minimum, every 3-5 years so that it operates properly.

* Purchase household detergents and cleaners that are low in phosphorous to reduce the amount of nutrients discharged into our lakes, streams and coastal waters.

A: We can all work together to reduce and prevent nonpoint source pollution. Some activities are federal responsibilities, such as ensuring that federal lands are properly managed to reduce soil erosion. Some are state responsibilities, for example, developing legislation to govern mining and logging, and to protect groundwater. Others are best handled locally, such as by zoning or erosion control ordinances. And each individual can play an important role by practicing conservation and by changing certain everyday habits.

Lake Meeting - Sarah

Hi Paul and everyone else.

Here is what I got out of the valuable information and discussion. Lake clean up possibilities.
1. drain, dredge, restock
a) special assesment
b) Need to consider fee adjustment
c) Dredging is a maintenance cycle of 15 years. We need to put that in long term planning adn budgeting.

2. aerator only puts oxygen in lake and good for fish, but will NOT help with ''green yuck'' aka, algae

3. Copper sulfate to try and kill algae, but unrealistic because algae reproduces so quickly.

Thanks Paul for pulling all of this together.

Paul will go ahead and research cost of dredging and other possibilities.

mark