Fall in the Shores is a beautiful time of the year

Residential Stewardship
By: Pam Hoover, Lake Management Sediment and Nutrient Control Subcommittee

Congratulations on owning property in one of the loveliest communities in North East Ohio! Whether you are a full time or seasonal resident, living by the water provides a special opportunity to participate in water-related recreation, such as boating, swimming or fishing; to observe wildlife in its natural habitat; or simply enjoy the beauty of watching a sunset over the lake and experience the serenity and sense of well-being experienced around water and nature.

When you own property in Roaming Shores, you do have certain riparian (near the water) rights and privileges. Along with those rights also comes the responsibility to protect, improve, and enhance the quality of the water for your enjoyment and that of future generations to come, keeping in mind that the water itself is a public resource for everyone to enjoy. That’s called stewardship: the individual responsibility to manage one’s life and property with regard for the rights of others. The lake is a living ecosystem and part of the larger ecosystem of all living plants and animals to which we also belong.

One of the objectives of the Lake Management Sediment and Nutrient Control Committee is to provide ongoing education for residents and to provide you with basic information on good lake stewardship, which if practiced by you and collectively by others around the lake and in the watershed, will help to keep the lake healthy to protect your investment in Roaming Shores property (healthy waters=higher property values), your enjoyment of the lake, and also preserve its ecological integrity.

As you may know, phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) are key nutrients needed for aquatic plant and algae growth. Excessive P and N that reaches the lake fuels the overgrowth of aquatic plants and algae. Excessive plant and algae growth decreases water clarity, decreases lake health, interferes with the recreational use of the lake, and diminishes oxygen for fish in the water, generally causing declining water quality. Here are steps you can take this fall to reduce the amount of P and N getting into our lake:

• Leaves, Grass Clippings & Aquatic Waste
  • Burning leaves is NOT permitted in Roaming Shores. When organic matter is destroyed this way, key nutrients are released and washed into the lake.
  • Collect and compost leaves and grass clippings to haul them away from the lake. The Village Compost Site on Rt. 6 is open during daylight hours on weekends (call Village office or see website for updates). If we allow excess plant matter to end up in our lake, the build-up and decay adds to our water quality problems.
  • Rake up aquatic plants, leaves, and other organic matter on the shore land and dispose away from the lake. Hint: It makes great mulch on the garden and can later be worked in as a soil amendment.
• Pet Waste
  • Collect and dispose of pet waste away from the lake, if it enters our lake it can jeopardize water quality and increases risk of serious health issues. Pet waste contains these key nutrients and may also contain disease-causing organisms, creating unsafe conditions for water recreation.
  • Picking up your pet’s waste and disposing of it properly safeguards you, your neighbors and your lake.

Enjoy this most beautiful time of year at the Shores!