Take care with lawn and fertilizer applications.
Better yet don’t use them if your property abuts the
shoreline or is within the shoreland zone of the marsh’s
tributaries.
Choose garden plants wisely. Avoid invasive
non-native species like purple loosestrife, Japanese barberry,
bittersweet, rambler rose, Japanese knotweed, and certain
shrubby honeysuckles.
Respect wildlife - they need solitude and
sanctuary. Choose low impact activities which emit lower noise
and light levels.
Promote wildlife habitat in your backyard, workplace
or schoolyard: allow native plants room to grow.
Volunteer with local conservation groups,
such as Friends of Scarborough Marsh, Maine Audubon, the Town
of Scarborough's Planning Board, Scarborough Conservation
Commission, and the Scarborough Land Conservation Trust. >>links
Be on the watch for and prevent run-off.
We can all do our part to stop Nonpoint Source Pollution :
• Keep roadways, street gutters and walkways swept
and clear of soil, grass and debris.
• Use environmentally safe cleaning products that
don't contain phosphorus or other toxic chemicals.
• Cut down on car use, check and repair oil or other
leaks and take batteries and excess motor oil to auto shop
for proper disposal.
• Use a commercial car wash or direct the flow of
water into grass clippings or gravel. Never let it flow
into the street gutters or storm drains.
• Substitute natural products like compost instead
of fertilizer.
• Use biological methods and traps to reduce insects,
weeds and fungus instead of toxic insecticides and herbicides.
Never apply pesticides or herbicides near wells.
• Plant native plants in exposed soil areas.
• Monitor and maintain septic systems for leaks and
overflows.
• Pick up and properly dispose of pet droppings.
If you own a business, you can help prevent pollution,
too!
• Employees must be well-educated about non-point
source pollution and taught ways to minimize the impact
your company makes on the environment.
• Keep facilities clean and swept for debris.
• Check dumpsters for leaks and keep them away from
storm drains.
• Recycle water and materials as much as possible.
It's likely that your garbage may be useful to another industrial
process.
• Control runoff from storage and other areas where
toxins are present.
• Ensure that no materials are flowing from your site
into nearby storm drains streams or other water bodies.
• Find ways to substitute less harmful products for
use in operations and production.
• Develop a good leak and spill prevention program
and have a plan of action for accidental spills.
• Use chemicals sparingly and never use more than
needed.
• Never use or store hazardous materials near storm
drains or water.
