Fertilizer & It s Use within the Indian River Lagoon Watershed
Legislative & Permit Requirements Florida Statue 403.9337(2) Impaired Waters must adopt the State Model as a Minimum IRLBMAP (Indian River Lagoon Basin Management Action Plan) Fertilizer Ordinance Adoption Provides Pollution Load Reduction Credit For N & P
Barrier Island Watershed Characteristics
watertable sand groundwater/sand
Fertilizer as a pollutant N-P-K Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium Cocoa Beach Reclaimed Water ~ 1.8 mg/l N ~ 1.0 mg/l P Fertilizer Application Rates potential in a ½ Rain Event 1 lb N/1000 SF ~ 0.4 mg/l 2 lb N/1000 SF ~ 0.8 mg/l 3 lb N/1000 SF ~ 1.2 mg/l 4 lb N/1000 SF ~ 1.6 mg/l 5 lb N/1000 SF ~ 1.9 mg/l
Main Nitrogen Sources to Lagoon Septic Tanks (only 6 in Cocoa Beach) Fertilizer Reclaimed Water (overspray & leaching) Wastewater (rarely discharge/asr will eliminate it) Pet Waste Storm Runoff (grass clippings, leaves, soaps, pesticides, atmospheric deposition, car exhaust) Muck Sediment Legacy Load
How Fertilizer gets into the Lagoon Runs Off by Rain Runs Off by Over-Irrigation Leaches down into Groundwater by Rain Leaches down into Groundwater by Over-Irrigation Granules left in Driveways, Curb, Roadway
How Fertilizer can Causes Algae Blooms Fertilizer makes plants grow; algae are plants Algae can bloom Immediately - 24/7 for extended Periods Quick-Lived, Algae settles out & cause Bacteria Blooms Bacteria Blooms Consume Oxygen in the Water, creating Dead Zones Dead Algae & Bacteria release more Nutrients - the Process Continues
Indian River Lagoon Seagrass Decline
Model Ordinance FL Friendly Fertilizer Use on Urban Landscapes - Fertilizer application prohibited if there is Flood Watch/Warning, Tropical Storm or Hurricane Watch/Warning or if heavy Rain is likely - Fertilizer Free Zone no fertilizer can be applied within 10 feet of a waterway or pond. - Follow Labeling Instructions on the Fertilizer Bag (5E-1.003 FAC) Nitrogen shall not be applied at an application rate greater than 0.7 lbs of readily available nitrogen per 1000ft 2 at any one time and not to exceed the annual nitrogen recommendations of 2-5lbs/1000ft 2 /year.
Lagoon Friendlier Ordinance Options Restrict use of fertilizer containing N & P during Rainy Season (June 1 Sep 30) Require that at Least 50% of the nitrogen in lawn fertilizer be slow release. Require no Phosphorus Fertilizer unless a soil test confirms it is needed.
Fertilizer Use Studies: Wekiva - > 15% of nitrogen input was from residential turfgrass fertilizer DIY Homeowners apply ⅓ to ½ less fertilizer than landscape contractors Weed & Feed as Fertilizer includes Herbicides & Pesticides
Landscape Firms Ordinance Options give Landscape Professionals clear Guidance on when, what & How Landscape Professionals have been adapting Garden Masters of SW FL - 10,000 clients in 5 counties - Business plan vibrant lawn not price per visit - 200 tons less fertilizer used - fewer fungus & insect problems - would continue plan if ordinance was repealed. Palmer Ranch Subdivision, Sarasota County - 29 acres St. Augustine - conducted soil, irrigation, plant tissue tests - developed specific fertilizer guidelines & IPM - vast turf improvement and saved $225,000 in 3 years, turf replacement costs went from $90,477 to $760.
Landscape Firms Ordinance Options give Landscape Professionals clear Guidance on when, what & How Landscape Professionals have been adapting Scott s developed 50% slow-release nitrogen and NO-P fertilizers In Pinellas County, Home Depot s FL-based companies producing lawn fertilizer went from 2% to 70% Rainy season products are surfacing no N or P... Just iron, magnesium & other nutrients Post Hillsborough Ordinance, Tru-Green opened new residential lawn care Center and hired 175 workers for this emerging market
Landscape BMPs Grass Clipping left on Lawn are a Great Slow-Release Fertilizer Reclaimed Water has N & P Organic Slow-Release Fertilizers support long-term Lawn Health If Needed, Fertilize in Spring & Fall Perform a Plant Tissue Test to see what your Lawn really needs Use FL-Friendly Products that contain Iron & other micronutrients for Health, not Growth Avoid Using Weed & Feed Products Over-Fertilizing can cause pest & root problems Do not Fertilize 15 from Curb or Waterway
Basic Cost Considerations of Nutrient Removal Dredging > $150,000 - $200,000 per Canal Capital Projects ~$1- $3M per Major Project Fertilizer Ordinance Legal ad/staff time
Local Gov Ordinances Tampa Bay has adopted a Rainy Season Sales Ban Pinellas County Tampa Belleair North Redington Beach Belleair Beach Oldsmar Belleair Bluffs Pinellas Park Belleair Shore Redington Beach Clearwater Redington Shore Dunedin Safety Harbor Gulfport St. Pete Beach Indian Rocks Beach St. Petersburg Indian Shores Seminole Kenneth City South Pasadena Largo Tarpon Springs Madeira Beach Treasure island Rainy Season Restriction Sarasota County City of Sarasota Northport Venice Longboat Key Lee County City of Sanibel City of Fort Myers Fort Myers Beach Bonita Springs City of Cape Coral Pinellas County Bellaire Bellaire Beach Bellaire Bluffs Bellaire Shore Clearwater Dunedin Gulfport Indian Rocks Beach Indian Shores Kenneth City Largo Madeira Beach North Redington Beach Oldsmar Pinellas Park Redington Beach Safety Harbor St. Pete Beach St. Petersburg Seminole South Pasadena Tarpon Springs Treasure Island Manatee County Bradenton Palmetto Bradenton Beach City of Anna Maria Holmes Beach Longboat Key Charlotte County Punta Gorda Martin County Sewall s Point Indian River County City of Naples City of Rockledge City of Tampa
IRL Local Gov Brevard County: Model but will bring stricter options Rockledge: adopted Model + stringent options Titusville: will bring Model + stringent options Cocoa: adopted Model but will come back for discussion Melbourne: Model + slow release N + no P Cape Canaveral: will bring Model + stringent options Satellite Beach: will bring Model + stringent options Indian Harbor Beach: no discussion yet Indialantic: adopted Model Melbourne Beach: adopted Model West Melbourne:? Melbourne Village: will bring Model + stringent options Palm Bay: no discussion yet Malabar: no discussion yet Grant-Valkaria:? Indian River County: Adopted Model + stringent options Vero Beach: Adopted Model + stringent options Sebastian: adopted Model
Are the Ordinances Working?
Are the Ordinances Working?
Are the Ordinances Working?
What s Next? Model Fertilizer Ordinance with Options Will be presented to Commission at 2 Public Hearings in November