SPRING clean-up and those leaves !

Waupaca Chain O’Lakes POST

A BLOG focused on Education, Conservation and Restorative Stewardship

keeping our Land and Water Healthy for Future Generations

March 27,2026

RAKING LEAVES IN LAKES AND STREAMS WREAKS HAVOC ON OUR LAKE ECOSYSTEM

Please do not put leaves in the lake.

When leaves fall from trees and land on the ground, they naturally decompose into the soil adding organic matter and nutrients back to the soil. When leaves are raked into lakes and streams, those same added nutrients (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous) feed algae, triggering algae bloom. Too much algae bloom in our lakes will eventually cause a depletion of oxygen, harming fish and other aquatic wildlife and native vegetation.

Bottom line, if you rake leaves into the lake, you’re adding phosphorous (like yard fertilizer) which increases algae bloom (one pound of phosphorous will produce 500 pounds of algae - YIKES !! ).

High amounts of algae can make the lake unhealthy for you and your family to swim and play in. And as mentioned above, it's harmful to fish, frogs and other wildlife.

When lakes are healthy, there's not only a greater ABUNDANCE of fish, but a wider VARIETY. Great news for all you fishermen out there !

Lastly, when leaves are raked into the lake, they rarely stay on our property. Please be considerate of neighbors.

SPRING CLEAN-UP

When the weather warms, we all get excited to get out in our yards to make it clean and tidy.

But last years leaves, grasses, pithy stems, hollow stalks and bare ground is now a home for many beneficial insects, native pollinators and other wildlife.

Native bees, butterflies, moths, fireflies, and other wildlife all depend on leaves, stems, and garden debris to survive the winter and early spring. Many native bees nest in hollow stems, leaves or underground, while butterflies and moths may overwinter as eggs, caterpillars, chrysalises, or even adults tucked into leaf litter or bark. Firefly larvae live in the soil and fallen leaves for up to two years, removing their habitat, removes the firefly. Birds, amphibians, and other small creatures also rely on these natural spaces for food and protection. Cleaning up gardens too early can unknowingly destroy these vital habitats, so leaving the leaves and waiting until consistent warm temperatures arrive helps ensure these important pollinators and wildlife can emerge and thrive.

These insects are critical for a healthy ecosystem and are struggling to survive today.

If you want more beneficial insects in your yard and garden, hold off cleaning your yard until temperatures reach a consistent 50-degree day time temperature.

If you feel you'd like to clean up, cut stems/stalks or grasses and set them aside until things warm up a bit.