Keep it Clean

Scoop it!

Dog waste left on our trails gets into our water supply. So please, do your part. Dog waste is not a natural part of the ecosystem as wildlife waste is. Herbivore waste can act as fertilizer, but the same cannot be said for carnivore waste, and there are thousands more dogs in the watershed than other carnivores. Dog waste can carry disease and is considered a form of nonpoint source pollution. Help out yourself, your neighbors, and your furry friends (pets and wildlife alike) by scooping the poop and disposing of it properly in a trash bin.

Lawn Today, Here Tomorrow

Many things that you put on your lawn, like fertilizer and pesticides, end up in the water near you. Driveway and stormwater runoff, including water that runs into storm drains, are some of Summit County's major water pollutants. You don't need to stop using fertilizer altogether, but follow manufacturer instructions and don't over apply. See more details below in the Trout Friendly Landscaping section.

Trout Friendly Landscaping

The trout friendly lawns program is designed to make it easy for homeowners and landscape professionals to keep nutrient pollution out of waterways. There are 4 tenets of Trout Friendly Landscaping:

Limit Fertilization. The use of organic or slow-release fertilizer (such as landscape clippings and compost) can help encourage plant growth and soil health without a negative impact on water quality. Many fertilizers apply a large but short-lived supply of nitrogen and phosphorus to your lawn. Plants often cannot absorb all of these nutrients when applied at a high level and the excess will either seep into groundwater or runoff into East Canyon Creek or its tributaries, eventually making it's way to East Canyon Reservoir and the Weber River.

Be Water Wise. Since plants don't need to grow deep roots to reach water, overwatering prevents plants from forming deep, healthy root systems making them less drought tolerant. Watering should be limited to dawn and dusk every other day. Do not water while it is already raining. The excess water can run off into groundwater or nearby creeks, taking pollutants such as excess fertilizer or leached nitrogen with it.

Plant Natives and Maintain Streamside Buffers. Native plants are adapted to local climatic conditions so they require less water and fertilizer than nonnatives, making them perfect for streamside buffers. These buffers act as a natural filter between lawns and waterbodies by using up the excess nutrients and water that runs off from lawns before it reaches the water. They also help prevent erosion and sediment deposition and can regulate water temperatures via shading if trees are used. These features make streamside buffers crucial for trout, aquatic insects, and wildlife. Buffers should be at least five feet wide.

Use Herbicides and Pesticides Appropriately. Only apply herbicide for state or county- listed noxious weeds and follow the recommended guidelines on product labels. Use spot spraying or mechanical/hand removal techniques where applicable.

See the entire Trout Friendly Lawns brochure and learn more about ECWC's involvement with the practice on the "Past Projects" page!

Snyderville Basin's We Get What You Flush Campaign

Snyderville Basin Water Reclamation District is a proud partner of the East Canyon Watershed Committee and cares immensely about water quality in the area. See some tips below for what you can and can't send down your drain. Remember, many compounds you may be sending down the drain cannot be taken out by wastewater treatment plants, so it enters back into our streams!

Wipes Clog Pipes!

Wipes clog pipes! Be smart about what you flush. Below is a list of common items to keep out of your pipes.

Flushable wipes. Wipes labeled as flushable are NOT actually flushable. Dispose of them in your trash.
Paper towels, napkins and facial tissues. Although they appear to be of the same material, they are not and, do not decompose in water like toilet paper does.
Disposable and cloth diapers.
Fibrous materials: Q-Tips, cotton balls, cotton pads, hair, rags, cigarette butts.
Large quantities of cereals or grains. They can swell in water.
Kitty litter, even if it says flushable.
Gum.
Medications. Treatment plants do not treat for synthetic compounds. Instead, place in a sealed container or, wrap in aluminum foil, and dispose of in your trash. Park City Police and Walgreens Pharmacy also accept medications.
Menstrual products. They are products intended to absorb water, not decompose in water.
Condoms. Also do not decompose in water.
Dental floss. Behaves like a fishing net in water, capturing and holding on to debris. Can wrap around pump motor parts (for homeowners who have wastewater ejector systems).
Food. Yes, it’s biodegradable and, will eventually decompose. However, not before it clogs your drain.

Cease the Grease!

Do Not Pour Grease, Fats and Cooking Oil Down Your Drain

Instead, pour it in a cup, allow it to cool and harden, then throw it in the trash.
Greases and oils from cooking combine with the assortment of chemicals in your plumbing and the public sewer system (fatty acids combining with calcium common in sewer water) to form a waxy, soapy compound. Those fatty blobs stick to the walls of your home plumbing, lateral and public sewer pipes, sometimes referred to as “fatbergs.”
“Fatbergs” are analogous to bad cholesterol building in your arteries, eventually causing blockages. They are notorious for generating strong stinky odors too.
“Fatberg” clogs pose a potential hazard to human health and the environment when the home owner’s plumbing, lateral or the public sewer system backs up. And, they are costly to clear.

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