April Stools' Day

We all know that April showers bring May flowers, but did you know that April showers can wash dog poop into our waterways?

LCC encourages folks to pick a day in April to head out to your favorite park, trail, or neighborhood with gloves, plastic bags and a sturdy trowel and help scoop the poop. Contact us at lcc@ lakechamplaincommittee.org and we will gladly lend you April Stools' Day supplies and offer some tips! Wear a safety vest if working near roadways. Pet poop should be deposited in the garbage along with any other trash you find during your outings. You can do this as an organized community event, a lowkey outing with friends and family, or a solo walk to help prevent dog poop from fouling our waterways with the advent of spring rains and snowmelt.

Please use this form to share photos of your outing with LCC along with other information like the date, location, and details of your clean-up

Pet waste carries nutrients that feed the growth of weeds and algae in the water. EPA estimates that two or three days' worth of droppings from just 100 dogs contributes enough bacteria to temporarily close a waterbody to swimming and fishing. Woof-waste doesn't make good fertilizer; it burns grass and leaves unsightly discoloring. Infected pet poop can carry the eggs of roundworms and other parasites (like cryptosporidium, giardia, and salmonella) which can linger in soil for years. Anyone gardening, playing sports, walking barefoot, or digging in the infected dirt, risks coming into contact with those eggs. Children are most susceptible since they often play in the dirt and put things in their mouths.