A healthy lake starts here!
What goes down the storm drains goes to our lakes and rivers.
Keeping our lakes healthy means we need to keep things like soap from car washing, fertilizers, oils, etc. out of these drains Our storm drain stencilling project helps spread this message with "A healthy lake starts here" stencilled beside many storm drains in Kenora and Keewatin.
The LakeSmart team was out for LOWDSA'S 4th annual storm drain stencilling project, although on a smaller scale this year than in past years as we were unable to recruit youth volunteers to participate. We did have Izzy, our honourary LakeSmart team member along to watch and learn!
LOWDSA is part of a binational initiative to raise awareness of the Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed in which we live and promotion of stewardship of the water quality within it. As part of the International Watershed Coordination Program offered by the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation, storm drains in Kenora and Keewatin have had a stencil painted beside them, reading “A Healthy Lake Starts Here” and a picture of a fish or other wildlife that rely on good clean water. Storm drains along the waterfront empty directly into the lake and so it is important to recognize that what goes down the storm drain, goes into the lake. We need to keep harmful products like soaps from car washing, fertilizers, oils, etc. out of these drains. Many communities in Canada and the U.S. have similar stencils or permanent markers.
This is a partnership project between the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation, Lake of the Woods District Property Owners Association, the City of Kenora, Riverview Industries, and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
