DYK Lake Beulah was named after an attractive Lakeland woman? 💋
The City of Lakeland encompasses ~45,000 acres containing 38 named lakes (with some interesting backstories) and numerous smaller lakes, ranging in size from 2.5 acres to 2,272 acres. Each lake plays an important role in irrigation, flood control, drinking water supply, recreation, navigation + plant and wildlife habitats.
Naturally, a city named after its lakes would have an official department for lake preservation, right? Enter: The Lakes Program, which was added to the City of Lakeland’s Public Works Department in 1987. Because of the relationship between stormwater + lake conservation, the Stormwater and Lakes Management Programs were merged in 1999, with a shared mission to improve the quality of all City lakes and water resources.
We play an important role, too. Earth Day (coming up on April 22) is a good reminder that protecting + preserving the beauty of Lakeland’s namesake is every citizen’s responsibility. 🌎
Here are 5 ways you can keep our lakes healthy:
1. Understand how stormwater pollution affects our lakes 🤔
- When it rains, water flows to streams + lakes, becoming stormwater runoff.
- Pollutants picked up by stormwater are discharged, untreated, into our lakes + streams – we need to minimize these.
2. Don’t use single-use plastics 🚫
- Plastic water bottles, plastic bags + plastic straws end up in our stormwater drain system and into our lakes. (You’ve seen the turtle video – that can happen here, too.)
- Opt for reusable water bottles, reusable grocery bags + silicone or metal straws.
3. Fertilize with care 🌱
- When fertilizer is washed down storm drains and into lakes, its excess nutrients reduce the amount of oxygen in the water, killing fish + aquatic plants.
- If you’re going to fertilize your lawn, make sure to get your soil tested, apply the correct amount of fertilizer + water it immediately.
4. Keep Lakeland clean. 🗑️
- Garbage on the ground becomes garbage in our lakes + streams, which can choke or suffocate aquatic life such as ducks, fish, turtles and birds – even swans.
- If you’re out for a walk and you see a piece of trash, pick it up (carefully) + throw it away.
5. Get the kids involved 👩👧👦
- Kids can start learning about environmental consciousness and help preserve our lakes by joining Toby’s Water Warriors.
Quiz
Check out more ways to protect our lakes. Ⓟ