---
title: Love Your Watershed | NEW Water
description: "Learn what you can do on the land to help protect our area waterways. Do your part to #LoveYourWatershed"
image: https://www.newwater.us/hubfs/Social%20Media/Join%20the%20movement%20LYW%202021.jpg
---
# #LoveYourWatershed
*At NEW Water, we’re partnering in the watershed to help improve area waterways. What is a watershed? And what can you do to help protect it? Join our #LoveYourWatershed campaign! Learn more here.*
Do you know what a watershed is? Learn about how you can #LoveYourWatershed and protect your environment.
Green Bay is the largest freshwater estuary in the world, but what is that, exactly?
Fall colors are fleeing, and it’s now time to rake those leaves and keep your nearby storm drain clear to help protect our waterways. Together we can protect One Water!
Wisconsin winters come with a lot of snow and ice. Salt wisely in order to lower the impacts of salt on our community and environment. How much salt is too much?
##  Avoid the Ick
When recreating in waterways, stay aware to stay safe! Blue-Green algae can produce toxins that make people and animals sick. Remember, “Don’t get sick, avoid the Ick”!
[Learn more](http://www.avoidtheick.org)
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## Salt Wisely!
Icy roads and sidewalks in winter can be hazardous, and salt is often the solution. But did you know that using too much salt can harm our waterways? Learn how much is the right amount to protect our water.
[Salt Wisely!](https://www.wisaltwise.com/)
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## Cut Down on Yard Waste
Autumn in Wisconsin means a colorful fall season … and a lot of leaves to go with it. Raking your leaves and picking up your yard waste can prevent excess nutrients from entering our waterways, which can lead to algal blooms! Loose yard waste can also clog up storm drains, and inhibit the flow of water during storm events.
Please #LoveYourWatershed by raking your leaves, and picking up yard waste! Check with your municipality on yard waste options in your community. [Learn how to dispose of yard waste in the City of Green Bay.](https://greenbaywi.gov/690/Yard-Waste)
Contact your municipality to determine how leaf pickup is managed in your area. Municipalities served by NEW Water which have info on their website include: [City of De Pere](https://www.deperewi.gov/topic/index.php?topicid=277&structureid=88), [Village of Allouez](https://www.villageofallouezwi.gov/depts/public-works/spring-fall-clean-up/), [Village of Ashwaubenon](https://ashwaubenon.gov/government/departments/public-works-streets/spring-grass-leaf-collection/), [Village of Bellevue](http://www.villageofbellevue.org/departments/public_works/garbage__recycling___yard_waste/yard_waste), [Village of Hobart](https://www.hobart-wi.org/public-works), [Village of Howard](https://www.villageofhoward.com/291/Leaf-Collection), [Village of Luxemburg](https://luxemburgusa.com/general_information/yard_waste.php), [Village of Pulaski](https://www.villageofpulaski.org/home/village-services/public-works/), [Village of Suamico](https://www.suamico.org/departments/public_works_engineering/yard_waste_site.php), [Town of Ledgeview](https://www.ledgeview.wi.gov/public-works/page/yard-waste-0#:~:text=Ledgeview%20does%20NOT%20offer%20curbside,not%20accepted%20at%20this%20location.), [Town of Lawrence](https://www.townoflawrence.org/topic/index.php?topicid=26&structureid=22), [Town of Pittsfield](https://townofpittsfield.org/services/), and [Town of Scott](https://www.townofscott.com/yard-waste/).
Build a Rain Garden
Having a rain garden in your yard is a simple and beautiful way to conserve water (which means lower water bills!), provide a habitat for butterflies, and prevent pollutants from entering our waterways! [Find out how.](https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Stormwater/raingarden/)
## Reduce Runoff
Did you know that washing your car on your lawn, and picking up pet litter are two simple things you can do to help prevent urban runoff from polluting the Bay of Green Bay? Storm water drains – those are the drains you see in the gutters along the street -- run directly into nature, out to our waterways. Car grease, manure, and fertilizer are best trapped before they reach our waterways.
[Prevent pollution of the Bay](https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/stormwater/learn_more/pollution_prevent.html)
## Love Your Pipes
The drains in your home aren’t something you think about each day; yet dumping certain items down your drain can result in sewer backups and costly repairs for both homeowners and sewer utilities.
[Learn what to do](https://www.newwater.us/love-your-pipes/?hsLang=en-us)
## Protect Area Waters
The Fox Wolf Watershed Alliance challenges you to take the Watershed Pledge to help protect area waters. They also host an annual Fox River Clean-Up.
[Take the pledge](https://fwwa.org/watershed-pledge/)
## Don't Flush Your Meds
Did you know unused medications should not be flushed down the drain? They pollute area waterways and the environment. [Learn more about pharmaceuticals in our environment.](https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/healthwaste/pharm.html) Properly dispose of unused medications through area law enforcement dropoff locations.
[Find a drop-off location near you](https://doseofrealitywi.gov/drug-takeback/find-a-take-back-location/)