Best Management Practices For Reducing Nutrients from Landscaping

Buzzards Bay Coalition

Decision Makers WorkshopMarch 20, 2013

Cormac CollierExecutive Director

Nantucket Land Council, Inc

ObjectivesObjectives

Nutrient overloading issues on NantucketNutrient overloading issues on Nantucket

Community Education Community Education

Process for creating BOH regulationsProcess for creating BOH regulations

Overview of Best Management PracticesOverview of Best Management Practices

NantucketNantucket Land Council, Inc.Land Council, Inc.

Established in 1974, the Nantucket Land Council is the only Established in 1974, the Nantucket Land Council is the only environmental watchdog group on Nantucket. The NLC works to environmental watchdog group on Nantucket. The NLC works to protect Nantucket’s natural resources in three major areas –planning, protect Nantucket’s natural resources in three major areas –planning, protecting, preservingprotecting, preserving

PlanningPlanning - The NLC monitors development - The NLC monitors development proposals, offers educational programs, grantsproposals, offers educational programs, grantsand scholarships and makes recommendationand scholarships and makes recommendationto voters on issues which affect the environmentto voters on issues which affect the environment

Protecting Protecting - The NLC conducts scientific- The NLC conducts scientificresearch to support the protection of our naturalresearch to support the protection of our naturalresources such as native species, wildlife habitat, resources such as native species, wildlife habitat, and water qualityand water quality

PreservingPreserving - The NLC specializes in holding - The NLC specializes in holding conservation restrictions.conservation restrictions.

Plant Communities of NantucketPlant Communities of Nantucket

• Sandplain grasslandsSandplain grasslands• HeathlandsHeathlands• Coastal Shrublands/ scrub oakCoastal Shrublands/ scrub oak• Red Maple/tupelo forestsRed Maple/tupelo forests

Nantucket SoilsNantucket Soils

• Dominated by sands and fine gravels with low Dominated by sands and fine gravels with low organic matter content.organic matter content.• Soils readily allow water to infiltrate and are Soils readily allow water to infiltrate and are prone prone

to nutrient leaching.to nutrient leaching.• Pockets of clay in the north with impermeable Pockets of clay in the north with impermeable layers of clay several feet underground. layers of clay several feet underground.

Sources of Nutrient PollutionSources of Nutrient Pollution

Atmospheric DepositionAtmospheric Deposition

- Direct Rainfall- Direct Rainfall

- Stormwater runfoff- Stormwater runfoff

SepticSeptic

FertilizerFertilizer

Water QualityWater Quality

Documented increase in nutrients in Nantucket’s Documented increase in nutrients in Nantucket’s coastal embayments and freshwater bodiescoastal embayments and freshwater bodies

Massachusetts Estuary ReportMassachusetts Estuary Report

Remediation efforts have targeted septic Remediation efforts have targeted septic systems, expansion of sewer, stormwater systems, expansion of sewer, stormwater infrastructure and most recently fertilizer. infrastructure and most recently fertilizer.

45% of the island is protected by various conservation organizations

How does a communityHow does a communityreduce inappropriatereduce inappropriatefertilizer use?fertilizer use?

EducationEducation

RegulationRegulation

Indicator SpeciesIndicator Species

Community SymbolCommunity Symbol

No Eelgrass = No ScallopsNo Eelgrass = No Scallops

Watershed ApproachWatershed Approach

1990 Water 1990 Water Resources Resources Management Plan by Management Plan by HWW, delineated all HWW, delineated all the island watersheds the island watersheds

Regulations and Regulations and education directed at education directed at watershed land use. watershed land use. Similar to Wellhead Similar to Wellhead Recharge District Recharge District managementmanagement

Recent efforts to reduce nutrient Recent efforts to reduce nutrient leaching from fertilizersleaching from fertilizers

Citizen’s Article at 2010 Town Meeting proposed to Citizen’s Article at 2010 Town Meeting proposed to regulate fertilizer use island wideregulate fertilizer use island wide

- Reintroduced the issue back into the community - Reintroduced the issue back into the community

through a direct legislative attempt at controlthrough a direct legislative attempt at control

- Language of article was flawed- Language of article was flawed

- Proponents did not gather community wide - Proponents did not gather community wide consensus. Lack of input from broad range of consensus. Lack of input from broad range of individuals and practitionersindividuals and practitioners

- Regulations needed to be science based.- Regulations needed to be science based.

Formation of “Article 68” WorkgroupFormation of “Article 68” Workgroup

Charge: Charge:

Develop a comprehensive plan to reduce the amount Develop a comprehensive plan to reduce the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus in our harbors.of nitrogen and phosphorus in our harbors.

Develop an implementation plan, budget, and Develop an implementation plan, budget, and timeframe. timeframe.

Committee MembersCommittee Members

Non-profitsNon-profits

Conservation CommissionConservation Commission

Landscape professionalsLandscape professionals

Golf course managersGolf course managers

FishermenFishermen

Concerned CitizensConcerned Citizens

PoliticiansPoliticians

Committee RecommendationsCommittee Recommendations

New Board of Health Regulations & Home Rule New Board of Health Regulations & Home Rule PetitionPetition Type, quantity, timingType, quantity, timing Island wideIsland wide

Creation of a Best Management Practices Creation of a Best Management Practices ManualManual

Educational initiatives & training for homeowners Educational initiatives & training for homeowners and landscape professionalsand landscape professionals

TOWN OF NANTUCKET BOARD OF HEALTH REGULATIONS TOWN OF NANTUCKET BOARD OF HEALTH REGULATIONS THE CONTENT AND APPLICATION OF FERTILIZER THE CONTENT AND APPLICATION OF FERTILIZER

FOR USE ON NANTUCKET REG 75.00FOR USE ON NANTUCKET REG 75.00

Core standardsCore standards No fertilizer application between Oct.16 – April 14No fertilizer application between Oct.16 – April 14 No Phosphorus unless a soil test indicates a No Phosphorus unless a soil test indicates a

deficiencydeficiency No more than a total of 3lbs of nitrogen per 1000 sq ft No more than a total of 3lbs of nitrogen per 1000 sq ft

per year. per year. No more than .25lbs of quick release nitrogen per No more than .25lbs of quick release nitrogen per

1000 sq feet per application and no more than .5lbs 1000 sq feet per application and no more than .5lbs total per applicationtotal per application

Applications two weeks apart. Inspect and monitor Applications two weeks apart. Inspect and monitor

Standards for Commercial Standards for Commercial ApplicatorsApplicators

All Commercial Applicators must receive a All Commercial Applicators must receive a license from Board of Health and follow license from Board of Health and follow the Best Management Practices Manual.the Best Management Practices Manual.

Enforcement ???Enforcement ??? Non-Criminal DispositionNon-Criminal Disposition

$300 per day for each day of violation$300 per day for each day of violation

To provide landscape professionals and homeowners with information To provide landscape professionals and homeowners with information for making environmentally sound landscaping decisions that take for making environmentally sound landscaping decisions that take Nantucket’s unique conditions and natural resources into considerationNantucket’s unique conditions and natural resources into consideration

To promote the protection of water resources while maintaining healthy To promote the protection of water resources while maintaining healthy and vibrant ornamental landscapesand vibrant ornamental landscapes

To reduce the amount of fertilizer use by promoting cultural practices To reduce the amount of fertilizer use by promoting cultural practices that help reduce nutrient inputsthat help reduce nutrient inputs

To offer site planning guidelines and suggestions for ecological To offer site planning guidelines and suggestions for ecological restoration that help reduce island-wide fertilizer dependent restoration that help reduce island-wide fertilizer dependent landscapeslandscapes

To provide science based guidance for nutrient management of lawns To provide science based guidance for nutrient management of lawns and gardens on Nantucketand gardens on Nantucket

Objectives of BMPObjectives of BMP

BMPBMP

Site AssessmentSite Assessment

Identifying Site ConditionsIdentifying Site Conditions

Site planning for new constructionSite planning for new construction

Site planning for existing landscapesSite planning for existing landscapes

Choosing a management planChoosing a management plan

Soil Nutrients & Soil TestSoil Nutrients & Soil Test

Why test your soil?Why test your soil?

Tips for obtaining a Tips for obtaining a good samplegood sample

Sample soil testSample soil test

Fertilizer Types and SourcesFertilizer Types and Sources

Nitrogen, Phosphorus, PotassiumNitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium NPKNPK Nitrogen Nitrogen

- Slow Release- Slow Release

Water insolubleWater insoluble

Coated slow releaseCoated slow release

- Water soluble- Water soluble

The Role of CompostThe Role of Compost

• Provides organic matterProvides organic matter• Food source for beneficial Food source for beneficial

bacteria and fungibacteria and fungi• Improves moisture Improves moisture retentionretention• Improves nutrient retentionImproves nutrient retention• Is considered a fertilizer for Is considered a fertilizer for

the purposes of the the purposes of the BMPBMP

Typical percentages of N and P in compost from various sources Typical percentages of N and P in compost from various sources

Compost Type Compost Type %N %N %P %P Leaf litter Leaf litter 0.1 0.1 0.05–0.2 0.05–0.2 Horse manure Horse manure 0.5–1.5 0.5–1.5 0.5–1.5 0.5–1.5 Lawn, garden, and food waste Lawn, garden, and food waste 1.0–1.5 1.0–1.5 1.0–1.5 1.0–1.5 Dairy manure Dairy manure 1.0–1.5 1.0–1.5 1.0–1.5 1.0–1.5 Feedlot manure Feedlot manure 1.0–1.5 1.0–1.5 1.0–1.5 1.0–1.5 Poultry manure Poultry manure 1.5–2.0 1.5–2.0 1.5–2.5 1.5–2.5

Fertilizer ApplicationFertilizer ApplicationSpoon feeding conceptSpoon feeding concept

No fertilizer application between Oct.16 – April 14No fertilizer application between Oct.16 – April 14

No Phosphorus unless a soil test indicates a deficiencyNo Phosphorus unless a soil test indicates a deficiency

No more than .5lbs of quick release nitrogen per 1000 sq feet per No more than .5lbs of quick release nitrogen per 1000 sq feet per application and no more than 1lbs total per application. .5lbs total per application and no more than 1lbs total per application. .5lbs total per application is preferred.application is preferred.

Business model changeBusiness model change

No more than a total of 3lbs of nitrogen per 1000 sq ft per year. No more than a total of 3lbs of nitrogen per 1000 sq ft per year.

Applications are two weeks apart.Applications are two weeks apart.

Issues to considerIssues to considerRecycling of grass clippingsRecycling of grass clippingsContinued compost applicationsContinued compost applicationsFoliar feedingFoliar feedingSpreader calibrationSpreader calibrationRecord KeepingRecord Keeping

Sample management plansSample management plansGuidelines for establishment and renovation of turfgrassGuidelines for establishment and renovation of turfgrassNutrient Management of gardens, trees and shrubsNutrient Management of gardens, trees and shrubsRole of irrigationRole of irrigationNative PlantsNative PlantsTurf Care Cultural PracticesTurf Care Cultural Practices

Mowing frequency & heightMowing frequency & height Recycling clippingsRecycling clippings Core aerationCore aeration DethatchingDethatching Top-dressingTop-dressing

ImplementationImplementation

Education & OutreachEducation & OutreachLandscape ProfessionalsLandscape ProfessionalsHomeownersHomeownersRetail Retail

LicensingLicensing

Government Follow ThroughGovernment Follow Through

Questions?