Judith Reeve

Yard debris dumped into lakes adds nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen) that fuel the excessive growth of plants, algae, and cyanobacteria. This prohibition would heighten awareness among those who manage yards around lakes, helping to foster a culture of lake preservation. People who would otherwise think nothing of blowing leaves or dumping grass clippings into a lake would likely not do so if they knew it was against the law and they could be fined. I have seen the polluting effects of dumping yard waste into Goose Pond where I live in the summer.