10 Simple Ways You Can Help Protect the Great Lakes While Traveling

Here at Great Lakes Loving, we clearly love the Great Lakes. We enjoy adventuring, discovering new places, and taking in the beauty of it all. But that love means we also want to protect this region for others to enjoy and utilize as the important natural resource that it is. While vacationing along the lakes, it can be easy to forget that these bodies of water are important sources of fresh water for millions of people as well as vital habitats for numerous plants and animals.

We respectfully ask that anyone who reads our content also follow a few very simple practices for enjoying the Great Lakes responsibly. Continue reading for 10 easy ways you can protect the Great Lakes while traveling!

1. Designate a Garbage Receptacle: This one is pretty simple. Whether it’s a nearby trashcan, a garbage bag in your boat or kayak, or a simple reusable bag in your backpack where you can store any trash along your hike, designating a garbage receptacle ahead of time ensures you won’t be caught off guard with no trashcans near by and you won’t be tempted to leave any garbage behind after you enjoy your time on the lake.
2. Use Recyclable or Reusable Materials, When Possible: Think reusable straws, utensils, water bottles, grocery bags, glass containers, and anything else you won’t need to throw away. Not only do these items save space in the garbage can, they also save trees and other natural resources. BONUS: It also saves you money!
3. Buy Environmentally Friendly Products: Bug spray and sunscreen are great at protecting you from the elements, but they also inevitably end up washing away in the water and potentially impacting the ecology of the region. You can do your part by reducing the amount of sunscreen you use and choosing to wear UV protective clothing instead. Swim shirts protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays while also giving you the freedom to apply less sunscreen! Another option is to look for reef-safe sunscreens. These are formulated without chemicals that harm ocean reefs, and so they are less likely to negatively impact freshwater ecosystems as well. For bug spray, try only applying it after you have taken a swim or using alternatives such as citronella candles, battery-powered fans, and screen tents to avoid pesky bugs.
4. Maintain Your Vehicles: Ensure nothing is leaking, broken, etc. before using it in the wild. No animal wishes they had a puddle of motor oil in their backyard, and caustic fumes and liquids from your boats, cars, and other vehicles can be very damaging to wildlife and habitats. Plus, you want your vehicles to be in the best shape when you are traveling anyway, so tune ‘er up before heading out!
5. Buy Used: This one helps the entire planet! Producing new products uses a lot of natural resources, and disposing of old stuff takes a toll on the planet as well. Why buy new when you can save money and the planet by reusing something someone else was going to throw away?
6. Secure Your Property: No one wants to see a kayak coming at their windshield at 55 MPH. Similarly, plants and animals don’t want to see your belongings flying into their homes. A lot of litter is simply the result of things blowing away or falling unintentionally. Tie your possessions down while driving or boating, use stakes, and ensure you store things properly, so they don’t blow away or fall off while you are busy enjoying your fabulous vacation.
7. Let Wildlife Be Wild: We love cute fuzzy animals as much as anyone, but most of those animals don’t really appreciate being treated as a family pet. And even if they do, it might not be the best for them. Petting animals can put you in danger as well as harm the animal’s skin and immune system. Feeding wild animals can encourage them to wander into campgrounds or roads where they can get hurt. Please don’t touch or try to feed wild animals, and enjoy their beauty from a safe distance.
8. Don’t Leave Your Mark: We have all seen the rocks precariously stacked so beautifully along coastlines, little Zen monuments that make for a nice diversion while wading in the water or serve as a great photo opp. But those stacked stones can do irrevocable damage to a river or lake’s ecosystem. Overturning and stacking stones, lifting logs, or rearranging twigs and bark along a path can disrupt the delicate ecosystem of the animals in the area and destroy animals’ homes. Instead, enjoy the woods from the trail, swim in the water while leaving rocks in peace, and revel in the fact that you are enjoying it alongside a living and breathing ecosystem filled with life!
9. Follow Posted Guidelines and Rules: The people who make it their job to protect the Great Lakes know what they are talking about, and they give good advice and guidelines. When you see a posted sign or informational board at a park or attraction, please follow the posted guidelines and rules. Not only will this save you and your family from injury or worse, it will ensure you enjoy your trip while protecting the local wildlife.
10. Ensure Travel Companions are On Board as Well: Make sure everyone you travel with is aware of these practices and committed to maintaining the health and safety of the environment. It can be awkward to make a comment, but letting others know that it is not okay to toss their trash into the woods or pour leftover fruit punch into the lake will go a long way to protecting the environment.

Alliance for the Great Lakes

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Conservation Coalition

US Environmental Protection Agency

Great Lakes Responsibility

Lake Erie Foundation

Eriesponsible

On the Water Ohio

Ohio Department of Natural Resources

BeachGuard Ohio

MIchigan BeachGuard

Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Land Conservancy of Western Michigan

Lake Superior Watershed Conservancy

National Parks of Lake Superior Foundation

Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority

Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority

The Nature Conservancy

Indiana Wildlife Federation

Minnesota Conservation Federation

Ohio Conservation Federation

Wisconsin Wildlife Federation

National Wildlife Federation

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation