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
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