Keep our lakes and rivers clean.
Pick up dog waste.
Colorado has some of the most beautiful lakes, rivers, and streams in the world. With your help, we can keep them that way. Learn how picking up after your dog helps stop an ongoing threat to our clean water.
HOW DOG WASTE CAN POLLUTE OUR WATERS
1. Storms hit
When it rains or snow melts, the water washes pet waste, fertilizers, pesticides, cleaning products, and other harmful pollutants that may be on the ground into storm drainage systems, like gutters and gullies, that flow directly to streams, rivers, and lakes.
2. Precipitation is not treated
Most water from rain and melted snow flows directly into streams, rivers, and lakes without being treated at a wastewater facility.
3. Pollutants affect water quality
These pollutants have a direct effect on water quality. They can fuel algae blooms, introduce bacteria, parasites, and viruses into the water, and impact people, pets, livestock, and wildlife that use the water.
YOUR MISSION
Pick up dog waste.
Please, don’t ignore it because it’s gross or someone else’s problem. Whether on your lawn or beside a trail, it ends up in our lakes, rivers, and streams. Be a good neighbor and steward of the land: pick it up. Bags can be found in most grocers and pet stores, though reusing any old plastic bag will do. Just remember to carry a few bags in your pocket when you go for a walk.
BONUS MISSION
Use less fertilizer.
When you overfertilize your yard, garden, or farm, the excess nutrients run off and can cause toxic algal blooms that threaten the health of fish, people, and their dogs. Follow the instructions on your fertilizer and, if possible, please consider going phosphorus-free. You can find phosphorus-free fertilizer at many Colorado stores; just look for labels that list the phosphate content as zero.
Thank you for doing your part to keep our waters clean and our ecosystems healthy!
