Should I Rake Leaves into the Lake?

The DNR strongly discourages dumping leaves and grass clippings into a lake, river, wetland, or other body of water.

Leaves, grass clippings and similar debris add nutrients to the water that use up precious oxygen as they decompose.  Some aquatic organisms need that oxygen.

If you’d like to be a good steward of our water and land resources, the best way to dispose of leaves and similar waste is to compost it either on your land, or at a designated compost site near you.

Note:  you should also not put compost like leaves and grass-clippings in or too near the street, where it can wash into a storm drain.  That ultimately drains into a local body of water, where it can cause damage.