It is inevitable that some leaves will naturally fall into the lake, however, an abundance of decomposing leaves will increase the nutrient levels in the lake which can lead to algae blooms and greater aquatic weed growth near your property next summer. In addition to a major “ick” factor, the algae is a problem because when it dies and decomposes at the bottom of the lake using up oxygen that fish and native plants need. This can kill fish and other aquatic life.
In the Mississippi River-Twin Cities Watershed, the MPCA monitored and assessed 180 lakes, and 80 of them didn’t meet water quality standards because of excess nutrients. They concluded that leaves are a major source of the problem. Depending on the lake, leaves might account for 60% of the excess nutrients in these lakes.
It is best to rake leaves away from the lake for pickup or even compost them in your yard instead of raking/blowing them into the lake.
Don’t “leaf” it up to someone else to solve this problem!
Rush Lake Improvement Association (RLIA) is not the ‘lake police’, however, we do discourage this practice as decaying leaves, weeds, etc. in the lake is a major cause of the excess phosphorous and algae that the RLIA is trying to clean up.
Please be a good neighbor and share this information with a neighbor who may not know the negative effect that raking/blowing leaves into the lake can have.
“Definition of a good neighbor: someone to be trusted; a courteous, friendly source of help when help is needed; someone you can count on; someone who cares” — Edward B. Rust, Jr.
Reminder, if you or your neighbor hasn’t already, we’d encourage them to join the lake association.
