Maintaining Our Waterways
 May 14, 2007
Dear Community Member,
Novi is fortunate to have many high quality waterways and prides
itself on keeping them this way. Over the last few years, the
City of Novi has invested greatly in improving water quality in the
Middle One Rouges sub watershed’s lakes and streams with the
dredging of Meadowbrook and Village Oaks Lakes.
If our waterways are to stay this way, we must all play a part.
For example, did you know that a major source of pollution in our
creeks, ponds, lakes, and streams is due to storm water runoff?
As the rain water flows over land it picks up pollutants, including
eroded soil, fertilizers, and pesticides. Proper maintenance
of the following can prevent pollution:
Lawn Care: Keep fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides
off paved surfaces and out of drainage paths and do not use them
within 25 feet of waterways. When choosing a fertilizer,
select a slow release formula to promote steady, uniform growth.
Mow your grass at a high setting and let the short grass blades
fall back onto the lawn. Maintain a buffer of taller
vegetation plantings at the water’s edge
Automobile Maintenance: Direct polluted wash water away
from streets and storm drains. Instead of washing your car
in the driveway or street, wash your car on your lawn or go to a
car wash.
Animal Waste: Clean up animal waste before it washes
into the storm drain. You can throw it in the trash,
preventing bacteria from entering the waterway.
Landscaping: Reduce the amount of paved surfaces to
reduce the volume and velocity of runoff. Create buffer
zones of vegetation to provide a greater opportunity for plants to
slow and filter storm water.
For additional information, included with this letter is the
Maintaining your Storm
Drain and Detention Basin guide produced by the City of Novi.
This informational piece provides detailed information on vegetation
management, storm sewer maintenance, a chart to track your
maintenance schedule, and more.
If you have any questions regarding maintaining our waterways,
please don’t hesitate to contact me at anytime.
Sincerely,
Cindy Uglow,
Neighborhood and Small Business Manager
(248) 347-0437
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