Become a Glen Lake Guardian
A Glen Lake Guardian is an individual or business who is committed to protecting the water quality of Glen Lake and nearby lakes, streams, and groundwater. Guardians demonstrate their commitment through the adoption of best practices in areas such as landscaping, property management, shoreline or stream bank management, and more.
Who Can Become A Glen Lake Guardian?
Anyone can be a Glen Lake Guardian, including community residents, businesses, riparians, or visitors to the area. Being a Glen Lake Guardian simply means you’re taking steps to protect water quality within the Glen Lake/Crystal River Watershed.
Guardians care about the health of the lakes, streams, and groundwater and want to protect and preserve them now and for future generations!
Why Are Glen Lake Guardians So Important?
While the Glen Lake Association can monitor water quality, research ways to improve water quality, and educate the community about water quality, it’s YOU — the people and businesses who live, work and play on or near the water — who have the greatest impact on watershed health.
Despite the Glen Lake Association’s water quality protection efforts, there are a number of factors which threaten the health of the lakes and rivers. These threats include:
- Increased demands on septic systems
- Destruction of greenbelts
- More area visitors and full-time residents
- Spread of tree diseases
- Invasive species
- More frequent, high intensity rain events
- Increased use and improper disposal of pharmaceuticals and chemicals
- Greater concentrations of phosphorus in rain water
How TO Become A Guardian
“Pledge to protect” by adopting best practices!
Glen Lake Guardians understand how their actions impact the water and pledge to protect it by adopting best practices for their home and property. When you’re ready to “take the pledge”, please let us know!
Recommended Best Practices For Guardians
“13 Tips for Clean Water” is a great place to start learning about how to care for your home and property in a lake-friendly manner. Even small changes in your day-to-day routines can make a huge impact on the health of the lakes and river.
Want to learn even more about best practices?
Explore our online resource library to dig deeper on topics related to lake-friendly practics:
- Lawn care
- Lake-friendly products
- Waste disposal
- Landscape design
- Shoreline stabilization
- And more!
Take the Pledge Today!
Once you’ve made a commitment to adopt best practices, please let us know! We would love to include your name alongside other Glen Lake Guardians in our newsletters and on our website. We’ll also mail you a printed Guardian brochure and a Guardian sticker to display on your car or mailbox.
MORE WAYS TO LEARN ABOUT WATERSHED PROTECTION
Request A Consultation
We’ll meet you at your home to answer your questions and provide advice. This could include discussing landscaping plans, identifying ways to improve drainage, or discussing erosion control strategies.
Ride the Discovery Boat
Spend a couple hours aboard a boat with your friends and family while listening to our lake biologist share fascinating insights about what makes Glen Lake and the surrounding watershed so special.
Attend an Event
The Glen Lake Association offers periodic educational seminars and workshops, as well as a “state of the watershed” address each summer at our annual meeting. We hope to see you at an event soon!
Guardian Program For Landscape designers And Lawn Care providers
Because of the impact that a property’s landscape design and maintenance has on water quality, landscape designers and lawn care providers are critical to the health of the watershed. The Glen Lake Association has a special program to recognize companies which choose to become a Glen Lake Guardian.
BECOMING A GUARDIAN COMPANY
Companies who choose to become a Guardian pledge to follow these best practices:
Best Practice #1
Encourage clients to:
- Preserve or restore the natural greenbelt and shoreline areas to enhance filtration and control runoff, while accommodating reasonable desires for sight corridors and usable yards and shorelines
- Use materials that will limit runoff and the need for chemicals and fertilizers
- Employ energy-absorbing shoreline structures where required
- Never blow leaves or grass clippings in the water
- Avoid, where possible, designs or activities that could be detrimental to the water or to natural shorelines and greenbelts
Best Practice #2
Comply with all state and local regulations and ordinances that protect the watershed — including greenbelts, shorelines, wetlands, drainage and inspection requirements. For example, state law prohibits applying phosphorus-containing fertilizer within 5-15 feet of the water’s edge.
Best Practice #3
Train and supervise their employees adequately on the requirements for this pledge.
Best Practice #4
Provide to all clients and prospects a copy of the Glen Lake Association’s “Landscaping and Lawn Care” brochure.
benefits FOR GUARDIAN COMPANIES
In appreciation of your commitment to water quality, the Glen Lake Association will:
- List your business as a “Glen Lake Guardian Approved” contractor on our website and other printed materials
- Provide a Glen Lake Guardian Member business mark for your use in marketing materials
- Provide brochures for you to give to current and potential clients in order to sell them on “what’s best for the watershed”
- Offer water-friendly landscape design collaboration, if needed
- Help train employees on starting a greenbelt or employing other water-friendly practices
- Provide Guardian decals for your service vehicles
MORE ABOUT THE GUARDIAN PROGRAM
Please contact the Glen Lake Association for more information about our Glen Lake Guardian program.