Free Education Available Through The Michigan Groundwater Stewardship Program On Lawn Care And Storm Water Pollution

Kalamazoo, Mich.- Spring rain showers, while few and far between this season, create much more than just a source of water for our lawns and gardens. Where does all the water go when it rains? Thinking back to the water cycle, those raindrops have many options. Infiltration into the ground may occur, creating the drinking water that 40 % of Michigan residents obtain through groundwater. Water may hit our plants and evaporate, or may hit different surfaces and continue on its way. Water moving over the surface of lawns, pavement, our houses and cars is considered runoff, containing many harmful components that travel into our lakes and rivers.

As rain hits parking lots, driveways, roads and sidewalks, the water serves as a carrier of any substance, whether it antifreeze leaking out of a car, the road salt mix applied in the winter, or the extra fertilizer spilled on the sidewalk. This mixture of various chemicals, nutrients and other items like trash flow into storm drains in urban areas. Unlike the water carried through the local sewer system, storm water is not treated before being discharged into the surface waters surrounding your neighborhood. But what if you don't live near a lake or river? Eventually, storm water will reach a discharge pipe, whether it is two, five, or ten miles away from your house.

What does this mean for homeowners? It is important to be aware of what may run off your property. In urban areas, fertilizer is one of the main problems associated with storm water pollution. Learning to properly care for your lawn and garden can minimize your risks to contributing to storm water pollution. Carefully applying fertilizers, cleaning up after spills, and knowing how and when to add fertilizer can decrease costs to you and the environment.

Informational workshops through the Michigan Groundwater Stewardship Program are available free of cost to anyone interested in environmental awareness. The groundwater educator serves the counties of Kalamazoo, St. Joseph and Cass, providing information to homeowners about water quality and your home.

Remember this phrase and help prevent storm water pollution, "When it rains, it drains!" Become an environmentally aware citizen today! For more information regarding storm water pollution or lawn and garden care, contact Melanie Szewczyk at the MSU Extension office in Kalamazoo at 383-6429 or email at szewczy5@msu.edu.

The Michigan Groundwater Stewardship Program is designed to help residents and farmers identify ways to reduce the risk of groundwater contamination associated with the application of pesticides and nitrogen fertilizers. Programs are both voluntary and confidential and aim to maintain a focus on the financial and technical constraints that drive everyday decisions. MGSP is a cooperative effort between Michigan Department of Agriculture, Michigan State University Extension, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and Michigan's AmeriCorps. Close coordination is also maintained with Michigan Farm Bureau, Michigan Agri-Business Association and the Michigan Association of Conservation Districts.

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MSU Extension is an Affirmative-Action Equal-Opportunity Institution. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, or family status.

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