Table Of Content

Pg 1 – English versions My Actions, Our Lake Simcoe My Actions, My Actions, Our Lake Our Lake Simcoe Simcoe My Actions, Our Lake Simcoe My Did You Know? Do You Live in the Lake Actions, Simcoe Watershed? The storm drain in your street Our Lake is connected to our lakes, rivers Your actions impact the health of the Lake. and streams. Simcoe The choices you make when caring for TOWNSHIP TOWNSHIP OF SEVERN OF TAY your lawn directly affect the health of I.R. Lake Simcoe. CCOOSSUUIINNMMTTCCYYOOEEOOFF CCIITTYY OOFF TTOOWWNNSSHHIIPP KACLWIATAKYR EOTSFHA OORRIILLLLIIAA Excess water from yards, driveways and OOFF RRAAMMAARRAA My Managing Fertilizer Use sidewalks is carried by storm drains TOOFW ONRSHOI-P MEDONTE into local lakes, rivers and streams. This Actions, runoff can include various sources of STPORWINNGSWHIAPT OEFR Lake Simcoe phosphorus including: lawn fertilizer, pet Our Lake waste, tree leaves and seeds. TTOOWWNNSSHHIIPP CCBBIIAATTRRYYRR OOIIEEFF OOFF BBRROOCCKK Simcoe M 5 TTOOWWNN OOFF 7 GGEEOORRGGIINNAA 4. TOWNOF REGIONAL INNISFIL MUNICIPALITY 1 TOOFW ENSSSHAIP OF DURHAM 5/1 REGIONAL 0 MUNICIPALITY BBRRAATDTDOOFFOOWWRRNNDD OO--WWFFEESSTT TTGGOOWWWWIIOLLNNFLL OOIIYMMFFOBB REEUUKAARRSSYYTT TTOOUUWWXXBBNNRRSSHHIIDDIIPPGG EEOOFF OTFO SWCNUSGHLOIPGake Scugog 2011 GGWWIILLLLIIMMBBUURRYY o, TOTEWCNU MOSF ENTEHW NNEETTWWOOMMWWAANNRR OOKKFFEETT TTOOWWNN OOFF OMF UCntariNLIAC TTOOWWNNSSHHIIPP TTAAOOUUWWRRNNOO RROOAAFF WWSSHHTTOOIITTUUCCFFHHFFUUVVRRIILLCCLLHHEE-- TWOHWINTB OYF OCSITHYA OWFA or O CTOAWLEND OOFN OOFF KKIINNGG RTIOHCWIHLLMNOONFD MTAORWKNH OAFM PICCIKTEYR OINFG nter f Pri For more information on fertilizer use, please s n’ visit: ontario.ca/lakesimcoe ee u Q For more information about what you can do © to protect Lake Simcoe, please visit: The Lake e 5 Simcoe Region Conservation Authority at 8 3 8 lsrca.on.ca and Ontario Stewardship at S B ontariostewardship.org/lakesimcoe PI What You Need What You Can Do to Know About Addressing the phosphorus problem in Lake Simcoe is a key environmental concern. Fertilizers Everyone can help. Here are simple things you can do to have a healthy lawn and a healthy lake: If you live in the Lake Simcoe watershed, • Keep your grass between six and eight • Choose a slow-release fertilizer that your lawn care routine affects the health centimetres high. This encourages root allows for more nutrients to be absorbed of Lake Simcoe. growth and reduces the need for fertilizer. by your grass over a longer time. Many fertilizers contain phosphorus. While • Leave grass clippings • Never over apply fertilizer. it is an important nutrient for grass growth, on your lawn. Follow the manufacturer’s many lawns already have adequate amounts It’s an easy and cost- instructions. of phosphorus in their soil. Fertilizers can be effective way to fertilize. over-applied or incorrectly applied to lawns • Do not apply fertilizer when and gardens resulting in phosphorus runoff • Test your soil to soil is saturated with water for that makes its way into the lake, streams and determine if your at least 24 hours after rain, if rivers. This unnaturally high level of phos- lawn needs phosphor- heavy rain is forecasted, or within phorus in the water feeds plant and algae us. Most mature lawns 30 metres of any wells or shorelines growth leading to a greener, murkier lake. do not need additional (lakes, streams and/or rivers). When plants and algae die, they decompose phosphorus. Visit your • Always keep fertilizers off using up oxygen needed by fish to survive. local garden centre to pathways, roads and drive- purchase a soil testing kit. ways. If a spill occurs, sweep it up and put it How to Read the Label on For more information on back in a sealed bag to use again. a Bag of Fertilizer soil testing call OMAFRA at 1-877-424-1300. • Plant a variety of native plants in your Most fertilizers have three numbers on the • Choose a phosphate-free fertilizer yard including grasses, shrubs, flowers and front label, separated by dashes. This is the unless your soil test results show fertilizer analysis or percentage by weight that your lawn needs phosphorus or trees. This can help prevent fertilizer runoff, of the three major nutrients plants need: which can contaminate our groundwater, lakes you are establishing a new lawn nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (N-P-K), and streams. Ask your local garden centre this growing season. in that order. For example: a bag of fertil- about what native plants grow in your area. izer marked 26-0-0, is phosphate-free. Most phosphate-free fertilizers will also include “phosphate-free” on the label.