Fall Stewardship: Stop Leaf Litter from Fueling Algae in Swains Lake

Swains Lake Association
2 days ago
2 min read

You might be wondering: leaves are natural, so how can they be considered "litter" in our lake?

When leaves fall in the woods, they naturally decompose and restock the soil with nutrients and organic matter. But what happens when those leaves land on hard surfaces like your streets and driveways, where they can’t be naturally absorbed by the soil?

Here’s the short answer: They litter Swains Lake with excess nutrients.

The Problem with Leaves and Runoff

Without any natural soil to soak into, when it rains, nutrients—especially phosphorus—released by decaying leaves are washed into runoff water, which eventually flows into our lake.

Unfortunately, this nutrient overload is exactly what we are working to prevent in Swains Lake.

Phosphorus fuels algae growth, including the toxic cyanobacteria blooms we've worked hard to manage.
When algae blooms die off, the decomposition process consumes oxygen in the water.
Low oxygen levels stress native plants and aquatic life, and can even lead to fish kills.

The good news is that you have the power to help prevent leaves from impacting Swains Lake!

Four Simple Ways to Turn Leaf Litter into Treasure

By working together, we can protect the water quality we all love. Here are four effective actions you can take right on your property this fall:

1. Use Leaves As Mulch (The Best Option!)

Leaves make fantastic mulch for your lawn and garden—and it's free!

Use your lawnmower to finely shred the leaves and leave them on the lawn to decompose. This returns the phosphorus and other nutrients directly into the soil where they belong.
Add shredded or whole leaves directly onto your garden beds to suppress weeds, provide insulation, and nourish tired soil. Your lawn and garden will thank you!

2. Rake Leaves Onto Your Lawn Before It Rains

If you want to go the extra mile, rake the leaves off your driveway and street and place them onto your lawn or into garden beds. Studies show this simple action could reduce phosphorus in runoff water by up to 60%!

3. Share Your Leaves

If you have more leaves than you can use in your garden, check if your municipality has a yard waste or brush drop site. Alternatively, consider bagging up your excess leaves and dropping them off at a local community garden or offering them to a neighbor who gardens or composts.

4. If Leaves End Up In The Lake, Don’t Use a Rake to Remove Them

If some leaves do end up in the lake, it is best to leave them there. Raking the lake bottom disturbs the sediment, which suspends hidden phosphorus and sediment back into the water column. This violates water quality standards and can actually fuel algae and cyanobacteria blooms.