Clean
Air
Lincoln
City recently enacted an outdoor burn ban. County residents must acquire a burn
permit from North Lincoln Fire.
| Notes from the North American Lake Management Society
(NALMS) http://nalms.org/Publications/NALMSNotes/notes07-06.html EPA Small Engine Rule to Impact watercraft by 2009 (This might bring back Opening Plenary memories for those of you who attended the 2002 NALMS Symposium in Anchorage, AK when Tom Mielke from Mercury Marine spoke about their fuel-efficient marine engines.) On April 17th, EPA released a new clean air proposal that sets strict standards for most lawn and garden equipment and small recreational watercraft. In the near future, those boating out on the water and those spending hours mowing their lakeside lawns will be using more efficient, combustible engines. The proposal is groundbreaking in several areas. To meet the new exhaust emission standards, manufacturers are expected to use catalytic converters for the first time ever in many types of small watercraft, lawn, and garden equipment. After rigorous analysis and extensive work with diverse stakeholders, EPA determined that such a strategy was feasible and safe. This proposed rule by EPA also includes the first ever… * Fuel evaporative standards for all the types of equipment and watercraft * National standards for vessels powered by stern-drive or inboard engines and * Carbon monoxide standards for gasoline-powered engines used in recreational watercraft Americans spend more than three billion hours per year using lawn and garden equipment. Currently, a push mower emits as much hourly pollution as 11 cars, a riding mower emits as much as 34 cars, and a recreational watercraft can emit as much as 348 cars an hour. By 2030, recreational watercraft powered by gasoline engines would see a 70 percent reduction in smog-forming hydrocarbon (HC) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), a 20 percent reduction in carbon monoxide (CO), and a 70 percent reduction in fuel evaporative emissions. When fully implemented, the rule would result in annual emission reductions of 630,000 tons of HC, 98,000 tons of NOx, 6,300 tons of direct particulate matter, and 2.7 million tons of CO. The next step is a comment period through Aug. 3. If the EPA adopts the rule as proposed, it could start taking effect for outboard engines and personal watercraft by 2009 and mowers, leaf blowers, weeders and other garden equipment by 2011. Eliminate Gas altogether, Go Electric NALMS does not endorse any specific product. This item is just for informational purposes. If gas prices are ridiculously too high, you can’t wait until 2030 for more efficient gas motors, or you are tired of dealing with the mess in general, you might want to consider an electric motorboat. There are many boat manufacturers out there that now build and distribute durable and beautiful electric boats. They do produce no direct pollution to your lake water. They also have a battery life of over 10 hours per charge, have low maintenance, have no fumes, and are quiet. Do a web search and you will see there are several companies out there. Here are just a few examples that you can quickly check out, www.duffyboats.com and www.electricboatsintl.com. Better Yet, Avoid Non-Renewable Energy Altogether NALMS does not endorse any specific product. This item is just for informational purposes. With summer here and Lakes Appreciation Month just around the corner, here are several great ways to experience and appreciate a lake without using fossil fuels: * Sailing * Paddle Boating * Canoeing * Sail Boarding * Kite Surfing * Swimming * Kayaking * Sculling * Aquaskipping (www.inventist.com) * or just simply floating around on an inner tube So whether you will silently canoe around the littoral zone in the early morning, use the gentle afternoon breeze with your sailboat, or just simply swim, the goal is to enjoy your summer day out on the water without gas. |
Clean
water...
Help stem the tide of polluted runoff.
The United States consumes 450 billion gallons of water every day. Nearly
97% of the Earth's supply is contained in our oceans, and 2% is frozen.
The world's water supply comes from the remaining 1% - water from the
Earth's surface (rivers, lakes, and streams) - or from groundwater (water
that fills the spaces in sand, gravel, and rock deposits below the surface
of the Earth).
Conservation
Energy & Water
Various water and energy saving devices are available
to use in the home. Contact Lincoln City Public Works for information
about how to conserve. The City of Lincoln City is working on plans
to ensure an adequate water supply for the future.
Use
efficient plumbing fixtures.
Various energy saving devices are available to use in the home from shower heads
to tankless water tanks. A whopping 40% of the pure water you use in your home
is flushed down the toilet. Toilet dams or just adding bricks to your toilet
tank can save an average family four gallons of water per flush - and up to 13,000
gallons per year! And low-flow toilets use a fraction of the water used by conventional
toilets. Showers account for 32% of home water use. Install a "low-flow" shower
head and you'll save water and money on your hot water bill. Tankless water heaters
are becoming more affordable.
Repair leaking and dripping faucets as soon as possible. A dripping
faucet can waste up to 20 gallons of water a day; a leaking toilet up to 200
gallons a day.
In Your Home
Keep paints, used oil, solvents, and other household chemicals
out of drains, sinks, and toilets. Ask your local government where
household
hazardous wastes can be disposed of safely. If a local collection
service for household hazardous wastes is not available, ask for
one.
Put grease after cooking in a tin can and store it in
your refrigerator until full. Then empty it in the garbage and
use the can over again. Do not put grease down the drain. Lincoln City Public
Works
gives residents free, white, plastic grease containers.
Recycle
and dispose of all trash properly. Never flush non-degradable products
- such as disposable diapers or feminine hygiene
products - down the toilet. These products can damage the sewage
treatment process and end up littering beaches and waters.
Use nontoxic household products where available, and
ask your local stores to carry them where they are not. Read labels
carefully before you buy.
Recycling
Recycle used motor oil. A single quart of motor oil
poured onto the ground can seep into groundwater and pollute 250,000
gallons of drinking water. Do not pour oil or other chemicals down
storm drains, where they often flush directly into your favorite
river, lake,
or bay. Many communities offer places to recycle used motor oil.
Recycling in Lincoln City: Around Earth Day on April
22, watch the newspaper for announcements about used latex paint recycling,
battery recycling, and other city cleanup programs. The latex paint is
then mixed by the Lincoln County Solid Waste District and sold. The Driftwood
Library has held a tennis shoe recycling day. Special dates have been
scheduled in the past to recycle computers. Recycle old computer printer
cartridges at the local schools to raise funds for education.
Keep domestic cats indoors
Keep your pet cat indoors. Cats can kill migratory birds and other small
animals. Indoor cats live longer and healthier lives. Outdoor cats should
be on a leash, in an outdoor enclosure or cat run. For information see
www.abcbirds.org/cats/.
Land Conservation
If you own property that you would like to preserve and protect
for future generations as an open space, park or garden, contact
the
following
for information:
1. City of Lincoln City - has open space, park and community
garden programs, www.lincolncity.org
2. Lincoln Soil and Water Conservation
District, www.oacd.org/
3. Lincoln Land Legacy
Program with Lincoln County, www.co.lincoln.or.us.
4. Central Coast Land Conservancy, PO Box 1344, Depoe Bay, OR 97341-1344,
Phone: 541-765-2234, Region: Tillamook, Lincoln and Lane counties, Email:
franrecht@newportnet.com
5. Mid-Coast Partners, www.midcoastpartners.org
6. Network of Watershed Councils, www.oregonwatersheds.org/
7. Oregon Coastal Zone Management Association, www.oczma.org
8. Oregon Habitat Joint Venture, www.ohjv.org
9. The Conservation Fund, www.conservationfund.org
10. Trust for Public Lands, www.tpl.org
11. Watershed Councils, www.oregon.gov/OWEB
12. Wetlands Conservancy, www.wetlandsconservancy.org
Safety signs
Safety signs are available to post near a dock to inform family and friends
about the safety rules of the lake. Contact the Devils Lake Water Improvement
District (DLWID). Keep poisons and prescription drugs properly labeled
and in a safe place away from children.
Construction: The following is from the city's
Natural Resource Overlay Zone (NR) Section 3.111
a. For in-water work the responsible party must follow the Oregon Department
of Fish and Wildlife guidelines for in-water work.
b. The responsible party may not remove native vegetation except for that
in the space occupied by the use.
c. Within six months of vegetation removal, the responsible party must
replant areas from which vegetation is removed with native vegetation
at densities at least equaling those of the removed vegetation, unless
vegetation would not allow the use to function.
d. The responsible party must keep sediment from entering the water area.
e. The responsible party must obtain all required federal and state permits
(e.g. US Army Corps of Engineers permit, Oregon Water Resources Department
permit, Division of State Lands fill/removal permit).
In your community
Help identify, report and stop polluters. Join PADL and help monitor activities
around the lake. Local groups can be especially effective working together
with state environmental agencies, and the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency.
Some excerpts and information from the Natural Resources
Defense Council, 40 West 20th Street, New York, NY 10011, www.nrdc.org.