Here are some ways that you can help maintain the quality of our lake’s water.

Don’t use fertilizers that contain phosphorus. Our lake is considered “stressed” by the NY Department of Environmental Conservation, and it’s classified as eutrophic, which means it suffers from low water clarity, high algae levels, and excessive levels of phosphorus and nitrogen.

A common source of phosphorus and nitrogen are fertilizers, which are carried into the lake by rain. So, if you or your landscaper use them on your lawn or garden, please check the packaging carefully to make sure they don’t contain phosphorus. Fertilizer bags are labeled with three numbers; look for one with a middle number of zero, which indicates a phosphorus free formula, as explained in New York’s “Look for the Zero” campaign. Even better, skip fertilizers altogether, as they’re often not needed in this area.

In fact, as of 2012, New York State prohibits the use of phosphorus fertilizers except in specific situations, and it imposed limits on the use of fertilizers overall. For more info, check out the campaign’s YouTube video and NY’s Lawn Fertilizer, FAQs, and Lawn Care web pages.

Avoid or minimize pesticides. Like phosphorus, pesticides are bad for our lake. As the Lake George Association explains in this web page, pesticides are indiscriminate poisons that can harm our lake’s plant and animal life. And like fertilizer, they are carried into the lake by rain.

Don’t pour hazardous waste into your yard. Household and automotive chemicals will also poison the lake. Please dispose of oil, solvents, paint, antifreeze, and other hazardous chemicals by taking them to Rockland County’s hazardous waste facility at 35 Firemens Memorial Drive in Pomona (near the baseball stadium).