We can each make choices in our everyday lives that will contribute to healthier waters in our waterways; we can make choices in our household; we can work within our community on watershed issues; and we can work with our governing officials in the development of regulations that will ensure protection of our water resource and contribute to a healthier environment.

These are some of the areas we can choose to become involved in as individuals to help protect the quality and quantity of the waters in our watershed:

Actions to take at home:

• Learn about the characteristics of a healthy watershed and why it is important to protect it.
• Conserve water
• Use native plants in your landscaping. With their long roots, they help prevent erosion while they slow, filter and facilitate the infiltration of stormwater.
• Don’t wash contaminants into stormwater drains. Only stormwater is to go down stormwater drains as this water goes directly into our waterways and is not treated.
• Reduce/eliminate use of pesticides on your lawn.
• Be sure to reseed any disturbed areas to prevent sediments from being washed into the waterways.
• Provide unmowed buffers of native trees, grasses and flowers along any stream, large or small that flows through your property.
• Make a rain garden with native plants to help slow and infiltrate stormwaters.
• Install a rain barrel(s) to catch rainwater from your roof and to use later to water your plants.

Community actions:

• Help educate your friends and neighbors about watersheds and the importance of preserving, restoring and protecting the waters.
• Join a Stream Team or form one.
• Work to help developers understand the economic and community benefits of implementing low impact designed developments.
• Join the South Grand River Watershed Alliance and get involved in their activities to promote a healthy watershed. Remember, there is strength in numbers!

Working with our City, County, and State Officials:

• Advocate the passage of ordinances that allow and encourage Low Impact Development (LID)
• Work for the passage and enforcement of stream buffer regulations that follow Best Management Practices.
• Work to protect the few remaining and essential wetlands.
• Support your elected officials’ efforts to enact and enforce Best Management Practices to protect our streams, rivers, wetlands and lakes.