1. Wash, drain, and clean your boat to keep invasive species out of the lake.

2. To guard against introducing VHS fish virus, only use minnows bought at authorized bait shops or ones caught in Lake Mitchell.

3. Check to make sure you aren’t growing phragmites plants in your yard. This invasive plant will destroy our wetlands. (see phragmites section in "Shoreline ecology and invasive plants.")

4. Use phosphorus-free fertilizers. (See "Shoreline ecology" section.)

5. Practice catch-and-release with walleyes to help rehabilitate that fishery.

(See "Lake Mitchell 2008 Fishing Report")

6. Develop a greenbelt along your shoreline (See "Shoreline ecology.")

7. If a seawall is needed, consider using only rock or seawall with rock rip rap to minimize wave action erosion. (See "Shoreline ecology.")

8. Do not feed waterfowl to help prevent swimmer’s itch. (See "Swimmer’s itch" section on website.)

9. Remove purple loosestrife from your shoreline. (See "Shoreline ecology and invasive plants."

10. Do not rake leaves or deposit lawn clippings into the lake.