Being environmentally aware is everyone's responsibility. We used to think that what we did on an individual level does not effect the environment.

Now we know better. We have harmed our environment by years of uncaring behavior. Now we all must act responsibly and teach our children how to do the same.

For example, the way in which you landscape and garden can make a difference with regard to water run off. Run off refers to the toxic materials that are carried from your property by rain water.

Run off often contains hazardous substances such as a excess fertilizers, pesticides, automotive fluids and any other contaminants on your roof, your property, or on the street between your house and the storm drain.

This toxic soup runs through your streets, into storm water drains, which ultimately drain into streams and lakes. Ultimately, much of this goes into the ocean, thereby polluting the ocean. Which makes the ocean unhealthy. Humans do not have a right to do this.

For several decades now, environmental regulators have attempted to regulate run off from larger sources, such as airports and factories.

Now the federal government is taking this to the next logical level by requiring local governments to take measures to limit run off from all other sources, including homes.

Here are steps you can take to help reduce toxic runoff from your property:

1. Use the right plants. This means placing plants with similar watering needs together.
2. Trees and shrubs can drink huge volumes of water, thereby reducing run off. So use lots of them as part of your landscape design.
3. Make sure your soils drain properly. If they do not, they will promote run off.
4. Mulching around the base of your landscape beds will absorb water and reduce runoff. Mulching also retains water longer, which can keep plants healthier.
5. Steep slopes encourage run off. Try to terrace to avoid this problem. Retaining walls will help terracing.
6. Dense ground cover will help prevent erosion by stabilizing slopes. It will also help provide natural water treatment addressing any water that does runoff.
7. Reduce the amount of paving on your property in general. The more paving, the less area there is for water to be absorbed into the ground. Instead, use stone, pavers and other pervious surfacing. In some coastal areas it is common place to use sea shells for driveways and walks.
8. Use the least amount of pesticides possible. And use the least toxic pesticides possible.
9. There are many low or no toxic options that are available for pest control. Take the time to identify them and use them when available.
10. Use pesticides and fertilizers sparingly. MORE IS NOT BETTER.
11. Physically modify drainage to retain rainwater. This might mean correcting gutters, developing swales, and dry welling.
12. And last is my favorite. Use as little grass as possible. Lawn is a suburban kind of thing. But there are many kinds of natural plant alternatives that require very little pesticides and chemicals and work very well. What's so great about a lawn anyway?

The information provided in this column is written by Stuart Lieberman,a practicing environmental attorney, and is for general information purposes only. It is not legal advice and should not be used in place of legal advice.

Stuart Lieberman, Esq., and IRED.Com, Inc., will not accept any responsibilty for any reliance on the information in this column or any damages whatsoever resulting from reading this column.