LANDSCAPE FOR THE LAKES
Our President, Bill, founded the Program Landscape for the Lakes in 2018, as a proposal to preserve the Great Lakes, protect tourism in our State and drive citizens and contractors to use best practices that reduce stormwater runoff and pollution in Michigan. This program was modeled after the successful initiative “Soils for Salmon”, implemented in Washington in the early 2000s.
OUR STATE ECONOMY DEPENDS ON OUR LAKES
Tourism
is one of the largest industries in the State.
Supporting
342,397 total jobs in 2017.
Generating
$24.7B in annual economic activity in 2017.
Boaters in Michigan
spend an additional $3.9bn/year.
Local Government
budgets dependent on property tax revenue from waterfront property.
OUR LAKES & WATERWAYS ARE UNDER THREAT
From Eutrophication:
Algae blooms are forming in our lakes across our state. These algae blooms are caused by phosphorous and other chemicals we add to our soils. In 2014, drinking water supply was cut to Toledo and portions of Monroe County (MI) due to algae blooms impacting nearly half a million people.
To learn more about the algae bloom report, visit: Michigan Harmful Algal Bloom Reports (arcgis.com)
From Sewage discharge:
Almost 15 billion gallons of sewage has been dumped into Michigan’s rivers, lakes and streams since Jan 2011. 10 Michigan beaches were closed July 4th 2019 weekend due to E Coli bacteria which primarily comes from discharges of untreated sewage as a result of excess stormwater.
WE CAN IMPROVE WATER QUALITY IN OUR LAKES & WATERWAYS BY IMPROVING OUR SOILS
When not properly managed, development can:
-
Increase stormwater runoff 4-5X
-
Decrease water infiltration by 50%
-
Reduce evapo- transpiration 2-3X
Amending compost into our soils after development makes soils behave more like their undeveloped state. Amended soils contain higher amounts of organic matter which:
-
Reduces volume of runoff = less sewage discharge into lakes
-
Reduces need for fertilizer = less chemicals flowing into lakes
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Filters the water that does runoff
WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP FOR MICHIGAN?
Landscape of the Lakes takes a hard look at what it means to ensure healthy soils statewide. Soil health can be defined by the capacity to function within natural or managed ecosystem boundaries to:
1. Sustain plant and animal productivity.
2. Maintain or enhance water and air quality, and
3. Support human health and habitation.
One way to ensure soil health is to create a standard for the amount of organic matter (SOM) required. Compost in topsoil makes for faster, healthier, more attractive planting and growing. Grass, plants, and trees in newly developed landscapes will have a better chance of remaining healthy and well maintained with the nutrients compost makes available.
Construction and Landscaping businesses should adhere to best management practices for compost use in order to effectively utilize organic materials in restoring disturbed soils.