Closing Camp
The summer months have flown by. It seems like just yesterday you were opening up your cottage for the summer. It is now time to get the cottage ready for the harsh fall and winter months ahead. When going through this yearly winterizing ritual, it is important to consider possible impacts to waterbodies and the surrounding environment from these activities. The following are some tips to help you in doing this:
- Winterizing a cottage requires preventing pipes from freezing. Drain the water system to ensure that it won't freeze, do not use anti-freeze to protect plumbing. Antifreeze is toxic and it poses a threat to ground and surface waters, not to mention the danger of it being ingested by pets. Adding antifreeze to plumbing fixtures is not necessary provided all the fixtures are completely drained.
- Damage from rodents such as mice and squirrels are also a concern for cottage owners. Refrain from using pesticides or poisons. To prevent these unwanted guests, inspect the cottage inside and out to make sure there are no openings for rodents to enter. Remove all food sources from the cottage before you close it.
- To make sure that shorefront areas will not succumb to ice or wave damage, inspect the shoreline thoroughly. Stabilize any eroding areas with vegetation or rock riprap if necessary. If using riprap, or patching a retaining wall, anything more than minor maintenance and repair will require state and local permits, so plan accordingly. This is also a good time to inspect parking and landscaped areas for signs of erosion.
- When removing docks and boats from the water try to store them in an area that will not kill vegetation. A stable shoreline and healthy vegetation are important in keeping eroding soil from harming water quality.
- Do not try to drain gasoline from fuel tanks of outboard motors or other power equipment. Instead, use fuel stabilizer (available from your dealer or auto parts store) to keep fuel fresh for next season. Winterize your engine(s) away from the water. When changing lubricating oils, collect the oil and bring it to your dealer or a recycling facility for proper disposal.
- Wash boats away from the water, preferably at a commercial car wash. Many detergents and motor oils contain chemicals that can pollute waterbodies.
