The thirteen lakes that make up the Alabama Bass Trail are known for their clean water and natural wildlife. Keeping these lakes pure for generations to come is important! The useful tips below should be practiced anytime you visit or live near a lake.

  1. Create a buffer zone of plants along the water’s edge. Fertilizers, trash, pet waste and more can slowly trickle down into the water. A buffer zone provides a barrier to stop these things from being deposited into the lake.
  2. Do not dump waste directly into a storm drain. All drains lead to the ocean – or, likely first, the rivers and lakes! We even saw that in action in the famous Disney movie Finding Nemo. It is very true and can be dangerous to the cleanliness of the water if dirty things are dumped down the drain. Remember, what goes down the storm drain will eventually lead to the lakes and rivers and then the oceans.
  3. Make sure your rain gutter is over a grassy area rather than the driveway or large area of concrete. Channeling your rain gutter into the grass or garden can decrease the amount of toxins that end up streaming down your driveway, into the street and into the storm drain.
  4. Stash your trash when boating. It’s important to be sure all your trash is put away before you drive off in your boat. Trash and other items can easily blow off into the water, creating dangerous situations for wildlife.
  5. Check your motor to make sure it is running efficiently. Motors can easily leak fuel and other toxins into the water. It’s important to keep your engine serviced and up to date.

Now that you’ve learned a few helpful ideas about how to keep our waters clean, let’s work together to keep our lakes pristine!