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Use lawn fertilizer wisely
Use fertilizer sparingly, and for houses that abut the brook directly,
avoid spreading fertilizer on the lawn entirely, or at least within
several feet (4-6) of the banks of the brook.
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Dispose of lawn clippings responsibly
Keep mulch piles and grass clippings well away from the banks of the
brook so that any fertilizer or clippings cannot be washed or blown into
the brook and cause water quality problems.
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Avoid over watering your lawn
Watering your lawn too much can wash away fertilizer (which is a waste of
your time and money) directly into the brook, and can use up water
unnecessarily (see the next tip).
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Conserve water in your home
Recent watering bans have reminded us all that water is a limited
resource, and one we need to be careful to conserve. The brook has dried
up entirely in some areas for the past few summers, indicating that people
and wildlife are not sharing Leominster’s water supply very well. Installing low flow
showerheads and turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth are two
simple ways to save water and money!
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Take your car to the car wash
When you wash your car on the street or in your driveway, harmful
chemicals, nitrogen, and phosphate can wash right into the brook.
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Get to know the brook
There are a lot of amazing animals living in and around the brook. Great
Blue Herons, deer, wild turkeys, weasels, snapping turtles, salamanders,
frogs and dragonflies are just a few of the incredible animals I’ve seen while
"playing" in the brook. You might be surprised just how many
amazing things you can see by spending a few hours exploring the banks of
the Monoosnoc.
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Support the Monoosnoc Brook Greenway Project and other local
conservation organizations
A great way to protect the brook is to get involved with an organization
that has the resources to organize brook "clean ups" and
educational programs. Annual brook clean ups are held for the Monoosnoc,
and every pair of hands counts! Call us at (978) 537-1408 for more
information.
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