2017 LakeTalk December 2017 | Page 16

Spotlight on Lake Saving Yards An An on-going on-going showcase showcase of of exemplary exemplary yards yards that that were were designed designed by by the the homeowners homeowners with with lake lake protection protection in in mind. mind. By By Erin Erin Johnson, Johnson, Friends Friends of of the the Lake Lake As As development development increases increases in in Lake Lake Linganore, Linganore, all all of of us, us, association association and and homeowners homeowners alike, alike, are are called called upon upon to increase efforts to to reduce reduce erosion erosion and and prevent prevent polluted polluted runoff runoff from from reaching reaching the the lakes lakes and and other other waterways. waterways. Stormwater Stormwater Management Practices such as terraces, swales, rain gardens, rain barrels, and permeable walkways and steps Practices such as terraces, swales, rain gardens, rain barrels, and permeable walkways and steps on on private private land can slow down down and and filter filter stormwater stormwater runoff. runoff. Other Other best best practices practices include include reduced reduced fertilizer fertilizer and and insecticide insecticide use use and cutting grass grow no shorter than 2 inches. grow no shorter than 2 inches. This This month, month, we we feature feature the the work work of of Jay Jay King King of of North North Shore. Shore. When When Jay Jay moved moved into into his his home home in in 1992, 1992, most homeowners like like him him did did not not think think about about the the impact impact of of polluted polluted runoff runoff on on our our lakes. lakes. When When Jay Jay began began gardening gardening in earnest, he was mostly motivated by the pleasure of “digging in the dirt”. mostly motivated by the pleasure of “digging in the dirt”. Jay’s Jay’s backyard backyard was was one one big big slope slope down down to to the the lake lake with with nothing nothing to to stop stop the the runoff. runoff. Over Over the the years, years, he he has broken up the expansion expansion of of lawn lawn with with long long terraces. terraces. Pictured Pictured below: below: Two Two terraces terraces frame frame a a long long swath swath of of shaggy shaggy grass. grass. The The right right side side leads leads down down to to Jay’s Jay’s dock. dock. Both Both sides sides contain permeable steps to to filter filter runoff. runoff. steps LakeTalk August August 2017 2017 2 2 LakeTalk