You CAN Make a Difference!

A watershed is an area of land that drains to a common body of water. Everyone is part of a watershed. The City of Lima is part of the Ottawa River watershed. There are over 37,000 people living in Lima and even more live in the entire Ottawa River watershed. If everyone in the Ottawa River made small adjustments to their everyday life, it would make a huge difference in water quality. 

You can do things like mow your grass to only 3 inches, keep fertilizer and grass clipping in your yard and off hard surfaces, and pick up your pet's waste. If everyone did these simple things, the health of Allen County's rivers and streams would significantly increase. See below for simple ways you can improve water quality in our rivers and streams.
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The purple area is the Ottawa River Watershed
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Close up of the Ottawa River Watershed. Click on image to enlarge it

Help Improve Water Quality in Our Rivers and Streams

What you do every day impacts local rivers and streams. Below are simple things you can do to ensure that your impact on water quality is positive. Click on the pictures to learn more about each action. 
Dispose of household hazardous waste safely.
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Use "green" ​landscaping practices.
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Install a rain barrel.

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Pickup your pet's waste.

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Protect storm drains.
Keep litter off the streets and out of the river.
Add native plants and trees to your lawn.
Participate in the Adopt-A-Roadway program