Water Quality for Healthy Beaches and Shellfish Beds

~Start a recycling center, or if your community already has a recycling center see if there are ways to expand/improve it. For example, have curbside recycling or single stream recycling.
     
• ~Establish a household hazardous waste center.
 
• ~Develop a storm drain marking program to prevent pollution of your community’s creeks and streams.
    
• ~Make good management decisions based upon sound and current information about development, public health, recreation, tourism, and coastal fisheries.  

What You Can Do:

~Learn more about water issues and how you can help to clean up the Gulf of Mexico- regardless of where you live! Streams and smaller rivers or tributaries from 32 states drain into the Mississippi River. This is 41% of the continental U.S. The Mississippi River flows into the Gulf of Mexico and provides 90% of the freshwater that flows into the Gulf.

~Reduce the use of fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides on your lawn and garden. When applying, follow directions and use the minimal amount. Fertilizers contribute to algal blooms. Pesticides and herbicides contain toxins that can harm wildlife.    

~Go native! Grow native plants which require less chemicals and water. 

~Use water wisely by following recommended guidelines for your lawn. Excess water will run off into the storm drains and eventually to the Gulf carrying pollutants with it.

~Choose household cleaning products that are non-toxic and low in phosphorous to reduce nutrients flowing into the Gulf. Learn how to make your own Non-Toxic Cleaning

~Pick up trash. Trash is harmful to marine animals, especially plastics which marine animals can become entangled in or mistakenly eats as food and die.

~Reduce, reuse and recycle.

~Properly dispose of harmful household wastes such as motor oil, antifreeze, paints. Do not dispose of these items in storm drains, household drains, or landfills that are not designed to treat them.

~Pick up after your pet!  Pet waste left on the ground enters our waterways untreated. This is not only bad for our environment and wildlife but harmful to people as well since pet waste can carry harmful bacteria and parasites.

~ Adopt a Watershed-Learning about the water around you and helping to keep it healthy is a very fulfilling experience! 

~Fix all leaks around the house and conserve water by using water-saving devices such as low-flow showerheads and toilets.  

~Don’t put any items down the storm drains such as grass clippings, motor oil or pet waste as the storm drains empty into the Gulf via our rivers and streams.

~Become involved with the Gulf of Mexico Alliance.

~Volunteer for your local organizations working to improve water quality.