and Landscape Maintenance Ordinance : A Tool for Improving Water - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Fertilizer Use & Application and Landscape Maintenance Ordinance:

A Tool for Improving Water Quality in Pinellas County

Overview

• Challenges
• The beginning: Leading the

way

• Stakeholder workshops
• Understanding local issues
• TBEP Regional Model

Ordinance

• Pinellas County Ordinance
• Education campaign
• Monitoring for success

Surface Water Management Challenges Aging Infrastructure & Information Gaps

Increasing Regulations Financial Needs Exceed Revenue Limited Public Outreach

Local Challenges

Flooding and Erosion Fewer Resources Development History Poor Water Quality

The Beginning – Leading the Way

• Regional leadership in

water quality improvement

• 32 public and private partners
• Collaborative approach to

meeting regulatory water quality goals for Tampa Bay

• Nitrogen Management

Consortium participants agreed to limits on nitrogen loads in Sept. 2009

Stakeholder Workshops

• TBEP facilitated four

workshops in 2008

• Involved 42 private and

public sector organizations (lawn care, environmental groups, IFAS, local governments, water quality scientists)

• Consensus-based

approach

Local Considerations

• Regional strategy
• Takes into Account:

– Area specific rainfall – Land use – Geology and soils – Understanding of local nutrient pollution sources – TMDL/NPDES – Fiscal responsibility

• Strong Education Program

Water Quality

• ~74% of County

waters are considered “impaired”

• TMDLs and RAPs
• NPDES permit

requirements

• EPA nutrient criteria
• Tool in the tool box

Pinellas County Land Use

Geology

• Areas of Karst

geology

• Wellhead protection
• Aquifer recharge

areas

• Urban-compacted

soils

Understanding Local Pollution Sources

• Evaluate nutrient

sources

• Extent of problem
• Considerations for

improvements

• Common theme

– Fertilizers are negatively impacting

• ur aquatic resources

Lake Tarpon Groundwater Study

• Completed in 2004
• Designed to assess

nutrient loads from groundwater

• Potential sources:

– Septic tanks – Reuse water – Fertilizer

• Estimates:

– 79% TN is from fertilizer

Safety Harbor Study

• Completed August 2009
• Summary: “Area is at or

near a stage of eutrophication that impairs ecological health as measured by water quality, sediment quality, and the health of the benthic community.”

• Nutrient source:

“increased inorganic fertilizer sources”

Joes Creek Nutrient Source Tracking Study

• Final February 2010
• Key point:

– Isotope testing suggests that fertilizers are the source of nitrogen loadings to Joe's Creek

Enforceability and Fiscal Responsibility

• Key Benefits of Summer

Restriction and Retail Ban

– Springboard to successful education and enforcement – Cost-effective method to improve compliance (built- in compliance with retail ban) – Simple, clear message for effective education – Managing nitrogen at the source is more cost effective than once it is in waterways

Nutrient Economics

• Stormwater retrofits can cost $40,000-$200,000

per ton nitrogen removed (SWFWMD)

• Pinellas County Example:

– Lake Seminole Stormwater Retrofits:

• Capital Cost = ~$6.4 million
• Annual O&M = ~$185,000
• N removed/year est. 1.45 tons/year

– Pinellas County Fertilizer Ordinance:

• Cost ~ $250,000/year
• Annual O&M = periodic retail inspections, complaint

response, educational materials

• N removed/year ~27 tons with only a 50% ordinance

compliance rate

Pinellas County Ordinance Overview

• Strategy
• Timing
• Fertilizer content and

application rate

• Exemptions
• Training
• Retail sales restrictions

Comprehensive Surface Water Management Initiative

Integrated Asset Management Responsive to Regulations Revenue Improve Existing Facilities

Strategies

Community Engagement Development and Source Control Policies Watershed Planning Increased Inspections, Maintenance and Monitoring

Timing

• Rainfall is variable

statewide

• Ordinance recognizes

specific conditions

• No N or P applied

from June 1-Sept 30

Fertilizer Content and Application Rates

• No P without a soil test
• No N fertilizer on new turf or landscapes

for first 30 days

• Granular N fertilizers used shall contain no

less than 50% SRN

• Application per BMP manual
• Not to exceed annual rate: 4lbs of

nitrogen/1000ft2

Exemptions

• Agricultural operations

and vegetable gardens

• Yard waste, compost,

soils, and mulches

• Wholesalers who

serve exempted groups

• Partial exemption for

golf courses and specialty turf

Training and Education for Applicators

• All applicators attend the

State approved BMP training

• Obtain FDACS “Limited

Fertilizer Applicator” license

• Display approved decal
• Required to complete

certification process within 1 year of ordinance adoption (01/19/2011)

Training and Education for Landscape Maintenance

• Requires training for

maintenance companies

• Training through Pinellas

County or equivalent

• Certification & decal
• Required to complete

certification process within 1 ½ yrs. of

• rdinance adoption

(07/19/2011)

Retail Sales

• No retail sales of

fertilizer containing N and/or P from June 1- Sept 30

• Retailers must post

signage on the fertilizer

• rdinance
• Granular fertilizers sold

must contain no less than 50% SRN

• Key to cost effective

enforcement

Comprehensive Education Program

• TBEP Fertilizer Education

Working Group – Focus groups – Marketing messages that work – Tools for retailers, landscape professionals, local government

• Sustainable landscapes
• Watershed education

program

Focus Group Initial Perceptions

• Lush lawns require frequent fertilizing (every 2

weeks to 6x per year)

• Must fertilize more frequently in rainy season (“it

runs off too quickly”)

• Information on fertilizing came from the bag,

neighbors, or lawn care company

• Few were aware of lawn runoff and where it

goes

• Prefer messages that provide clear, simple

instructions!!

Marketing Messages that Work

Marketing Messages that Work

Marketing Messages that Work

Marketing Messages that Work

Marketing Messages that Work

Sustainable Landscapes

• Florida-Friendly

LandscapingTM

– Not one size fits all

• Better design and proper

care

– Soils, trimming and mowing, irrigation practices

• Sound landscaping

principles

– Less water – Less chemicals – Less work

Lessons Learned from Stakeholder and Focus Group Meetings

• No enforcement = no

compliance

• Can’t buy it; can’t use it
• Awareness in the industry

= partnerships

• Online training

mechanisms are a must

• Bilingual programs are

critical

• Streamlined processes
• Adaptive management

Outcomes

• Licensed applicators

– 1350 / 827

• Certified landscapers

– 7265

• Increased awareness

(UCF, 2014; Pinellas, ongoing)

– No fertilizer during the summer – Nitrogen causes algae blooms – Where water flows – Impact of landscape debris on water quality

Monitoring For Success

• Countywide water

quality monitoring

– WQ Report card – Assess changes in WQ

• Continued special

studies

– Assess sources of pollution

• Fertilizer use statistics
• Improved landscape

maintenance practices

• Surveys

Discussion

Questions: arivera@pinellascounty.org