Fireworks at dusk over a lake.
How Fireworks Debris Can Affect Water Quality
Fireworks create a beautiful show across night skies, but it’s a different story for the waterscapes below. Across the Glen Lake/Crystal River Watershed, fireworks debris accumulates along the shoreline and in the water. Because of the materials used to create fireworks, this debris can be especially damaging to water quality, wildlife, and aquatic habitats.
Fireworks-Debris-Found Above: Fireworks debris collected from on shoreline on Little Glen Lake in 2025
“Besides just creating visible litter, fireworks debris can release heavy metals into the environment like barium, lead, copper, and strontium, as well as toxic chemicals like perchlorates,” explained Kate Gille, executive director of the GLA. “Those pollutants can dissolve into the water, where they reduce oxygen levels, promote harmful algal growth, and make it more difficult for fish and other aquatic wildlife to survive.”
Fireworks can also release fine particles that contribute to water and air pollution. When these particles settle on bodies of water, they increase water turbidity, or cloudiness. This restricts light penetration and disrupts photosynthesis, which can harm the aquatic plants that other species depend on for food and oxygen.
Larger pieces of fireworks left behind are also a concern. Over time, these fragments can break down into microplastics, which can smother the lakebed and enter the food chain through small organisms. Fish and larger predators who consume them—including humans—are then exposed.
“Additionally, the light and noise caused by setting off fireworks can disturb and displace wildlife, disrupt nesting behavior, and alter feeding patterns,” Gille explained. “But as a community, we can make small changes to help mitigate all these negative consequences while enjoying traditions and celebrations that mean so much to us all.”
Connect Celebration with Stewardship on July 5
- After Independence Day, the GLA invites residents and visitors to join a Self-Guided Shoreline Cleanup event all day on Sunday, July 5. You can participate by walking your personal property and public lake/river access areas to collect fireworks debris from shorelines and shallow waters. Debris may include cardboard casings, wrappers, fuses, plastic pieces, and other materials. Take photos of the debris you collect and send to: contact@glenlakeassociation.org. These photos will help with fireworks education in the future.
- Wear gloves when handling fireworks debris
- Dispose of collected debris in containers or bags that can be sealed or tied
Alternatives to Fireworks
If you’re seeking safer and cleaner alternatives to fireworks, consider celebrating with:
- Low-noise fireworks: Replace loud booming sounds with soft crackles and shimmers that typically max out at 90 decibels, which make them great for wildlife and pets while still putting on a great show for celebrating.
- Glowsticks and LED accessories: These hands-on, family-friendly alternatives are wonderful for children and often reusable for sustainable fun. These include LED sparklers that are beautiful to look at without all the chemicals.
Remember to Check Local Ordinances
Celebrators should check local ordinances within the Glen Lake/Crystal River Watershed to ensure their fireworks plans align with local regulations. While each township may have its own regulations, many share common goals, including limiting fireworks use to specific days, prohibiting use late at night to reduce disturbances for wildlife and residents, and restricting use in some public or environmentally sensitive locations.
Local ordinances of note may include:
In addition, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore prohibits fireworks entirely within the park boundaries to protect wildlife, natural resources, and visitor safety.
Make this Fourth of July one for the books! When it comes to fireworks, celebrate with human, animal, and environmental safety in mind.
Happy Independence Day from the GLA!