Things You Can Do Around Your Home to Protect Salmon Habitats

The constant threat of climate change and human activity has put a strain on salmon habitats. Canada has so many rivers that cover such a wide area that solving this problem seems impossible. But, every day of inaction only makes the problem worse.

However, you can play your part in providing a solution. There are changes to various activities that can help in protecting the wetlands and streams. Such areas are vital to salmon spawning grounds and habitats.

Here are a few things you can do at home and around your property to protect salmon habitat:

Reducing Stormwater Runoff

Stormwater runoff collects everything in its way as it courses from developed areas to floodplains and streams. Some of these sediments include agricultural and household waste. Such waste degrades the water quality of the water sources and kills salmon.

You can avert such negative effects by directing runoff to vegetated areas. The grass, trees and plants will hold off such sediments thereby protecting the nearby water sources from pollution. Such a measure also reduces the volumes of stormwater that often overwhelm wetlands with unnatural flooding patterns.

Holistic Gardening Practices

Stormwater also carries the seeds, fertilizers and other supplements from your lawn and garden to wetlands. The seeds can introduce invasive plant species to the wetlands, which may overwhelm the local plant life. The fertilizers can enrich the plant life, making them dominate the salmon habitat.

Holistic gardening practices like farmyard hygiene can reduce the trash that ends up in streams. You should also consider applying fertilizers during the warmer months.

Safe Disposal of Hazardous Waste

Motor oil, medical waste, old electronics and other hazardous waste should be safely disposed of. Such waste can find its way into streams where they can harm salmon populations.

Wastes should be recycled where possible. Consider hiring a professional waste disposal company to handle what can’t be recycled. You can donate the electronic waste or drop it off at a specialized E-waste recycling plant.

Grow a Rain Garden

Rain gardens are patches of land where you can direct your wastewater. Such gardens usually consist of grass, bushes or shrubbery. You can reduce the soil erosion and the infiltration of other wastes by directing household wastewaters into such gardens.