holly greening executive director tampa bay estuary program october 13, 2008 holly greening...
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Holly GreeningExecutive DirectorTampa Bay Estuary
Program
October 13, 2008
Holly GreeningExecutive DirectorTampa Bay Estuary
Program
October 13, 2008
Non-agricultural regional fertilizer
application recommendations
Non-agricultural regional fertilizer
application recommendations
TBEP is protecting and restoringTBEP is protecting and restoringTampa BayTampa Bay
• Inter-Inter-governmental governmental programprogram
• Started in 1991 Started in 1991
• science-based science-based management management planplan
Tampa Bay Estuary ProgramTampa Bay Estuary Program
TBEP Policy Board PartnersTBEP Policy Board Partners
Tampa Bay is getting better!Tampa Bay is getting better!Tampa Bay is getting better!Tampa Bay is getting better!
• Seagrass Seagrass coverage coverage increased increased 6,000 6,000 acres since acres since 1980s1980s
• Water Water quality quality meeting meeting current current targetstargets
• Seagrass Seagrass coverage coverage increased increased 6,000 6,000 acres since acres since 1980s1980s
• Water Water quality quality meeting meeting current current targetstargets
-- Excess nitrogen clouds the -- Excess nitrogen clouds the water and reduces sunlight so water and reduces sunlight so
seagrasses can’t grow.seagrasses can’t grow.
-- Baywide, residential runoff is -- Baywide, residential runoff is 31% of total N load to bay31% of total N load to bay
Nitrogen is a critical Nitrogen is a critical pollutant of pollutant of concern in Tampa Bayconcern in Tampa Bay
Nitrogen Management Consortium: Public/Private Partnership maintaining improvements
Nitrogen Management Consortium: Public/Private Partnership maintaining improvements
CollaborativeCollaborativeapproach toapproach tomeeting regulatedmeeting regulatedwater quality goals water quality goals
Meeting current Meeting current nutrientnutrient
reduction goalsreduction goalssince 1996since 1996
CollaborativeCollaborativeapproach toapproach tomeeting regulatedmeeting regulatedwater quality goals water quality goals
Meeting current Meeting current nutrientnutrient
reduction goalsreduction goalssince 1996since 1996
Costs to remove Nitrogen Costs to remove Nitrogen from waterwaysfrom waterways
Costs to remove excess nitrogen Costs to remove excess nitrogen from waterways can be from waterways can be significant. significant.
Stormwater retrofits can average Stormwater retrofits can average around $20/lb of nitrogen, or around $20/lb of nitrogen, or
$40,000 per ton (SWFWMD).$40,000 per ton (SWFWMD).Wastewater treatment upgrades Wastewater treatment upgrades
are greater than that amount.are greater than that amount.
Nitrogen fertilizer and Nitrogen fertilizer and residential areas residential areas
• Homeowners use 6 times more Homeowners use 6 times more fertilizer/acre than farmers (NAS fertilizer/acre than farmers (NAS study)study)
• 79% of Nitrogen carried in 79% of Nitrogen carried in groundwater to Lake Tarpon groundwater to Lake Tarpon from lawn fertilizers (Pinellas from lawn fertilizers (Pinellas study)study)
Development of Regional Development of Regional Non-agricultural Fertilizer Non-agricultural Fertilizer
Application RecommendationsApplication Recommendations
• Facilitated four workshops Facilitated four workshops between April-Junebetween April-June
• Participation from 42 private Participation from 42 private and public sector and public sector organizations organizations
• Consensus-based approachConsensus-based approach
Key recommendations Key recommendations endorsed by TBEP Policy endorsed by TBEP Policy
Board Aug 2008Board Aug 2008• No application of N fertilizer No application of N fertilizer
from June 1- September 30 from June 1- September 30 rainy season.rainy season.
• No application within 10 feet No application within 10 feet of a waterway or wetland. of a waterway or wetland. With a deflector shield, can With a deflector shield, can apply to 3 feet.apply to 3 feet.
Key Recommendations Key Recommendations (cont.)(cont.)
• Encourage 6-foot low Encourage 6-foot low maintenance (“no mow”) maintenance (“no mow”) zone adjacent to waterways.zone adjacent to waterways.
• Train and license all site Train and license all site supervisors of lawn care supervisors of lawn care companies.companies.
Key Recommendations (cont.)Key Recommendations (cont.)
• Create baywide Create baywide license/certificate for license/certificate for reciprocal recognition across reciprocal recognition across the region.the region.
• Provide education to reclaimed Provide education to reclaimed water irrigation users re: need water irrigation users re: need for less nitrogen fertilizer. for less nitrogen fertilizer.
Recommended application of fertilizer nitrogen (lb/year/1,000 ft2)
Region Irrigate ¾” two times per week
Irrigate ¾” three times per week
1 3.1 2.6 2 2.9 2.4 3 1.4 0.0 4 0.6 0.0 5 0.0 0.0 6 0.0 0.0
Region 1 – Bradenton, Clearwater, Largo, Oldsmar, and Palmetto Region 2 – Hillsborough County, Tampa and north Pinellas Cty Region 3 – Pasco County Region 4 – Manatee County Region 5 – Zephyrhills Region 6 - St. PetersburgThe total recommended annual application from both reclaimed and fertilizer is 4 lb N/1000 ft2.
Education: A Head StartEducation: A Head Start• Link Fertilizer Education Link Fertilizer Education
Messages to Start of Messages to Start of Hurricane Season.Hurricane Season.
• Provide info about Fertilizer Provide info about Fertilizer Use in Utility Use in Utility Bills/Newsletters.Bills/Newsletters.
• Drop-down boxes on Drop-down boxes on government web sites government web sites showing additional N needs, showing additional N needs, if any, with reclaimed waterif any, with reclaimed water
Potential Nitrogen Potential Nitrogen ReductionsReductions
• With moderate compliance (50%), With moderate compliance (50%), implementing ordinances could reduce implementing ordinances could reduce Nitrogen loading to Tampa Bay by Nitrogen loading to Tampa Bay by nearly 84 tons per year.nearly 84 tons per year.
• Potential cost savings of ~$ 3.3m per Potential cost savings of ~$ 3.3m per year if additional stormwater year if additional stormwater treatment needed to meet required treatment needed to meet required reductions. Greater if wastewater reductions. Greater if wastewater upgrades are required.upgrades are required.
• Potentially significant to meet Potentially significant to meet FDEP/EPA regulatory requirements.FDEP/EPA regulatory requirements.
Next StepsNext Steps
• Draft model ordinance for Draft model ordinance for Policy Board consideration Policy Board consideration Nov 2008. Nov 2008. If endorsed, local If endorsed, local government may adopt, but government may adopt, but are not required.are not required.
Next StepsNext Steps
• Include Point of Sale restrictions Include Point of Sale restrictions if possibleif possible
• Provide technical background Provide technical background and costs/benefits of ordinanceand costs/benefits of ordinance
• Contact FDEP/EPA regarding Contact FDEP/EPA regarding possible regulatory (TMDL) possible regulatory (TMDL) credit for ordinancecredit for ordinance
Thank you for your continued support of the TBEP
Tampa Bay Estuary Program:
Partnership for a Healthy Bay
Non-agricultural regional fertilizer application recommendations
Tampa Bay Estuary Program:
Partnership for a Healthy Bay
Non-agricultural regional fertilizer application recommendations