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There are many effective ways to control nonpoint source nutrient runoff but the most efficient method is to eliminate, or at least lower, their use. For example, overuse of fertilizer is a well-known problem in many urban areas, especially the fertilization of residential and commercial lawns. In response to overuse of fertilizers in the fragile Chesapeake Bay watershed, the State of Maryland recently promulgated new regulations requiring all lawn care professionals be certified to apply lawn fertilizers and all businesses that fertilize turf (including golf courses, public parks, athletic fields, and other nonagricultural properties) must be licensed and have at least one certified applicator on staff. Beginning in 2015, licensed businesses will also be required to file annual activity reports with the state Department of Agriculture.
In addition, both professionals and homeowners are required to follow specific fertilizer restrictions, which might be considered good rules for everyone. These include:
- Following University of Maryland fertilizer recommendations, including seasonal and yearly nitrogen recommendations;
- Limiting a single application to 0.9 pound total nitrogen per 1,000 square feet (sq ft) (including no more than 0.7 pounds of soluble nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft);
- Prohibiting fertilizer application on impervious surfaces such as sidewalks and requiring any such residue be swept back onto lawns;
- Applying only when soil test shows it is needed or when being established, patched, or renovated;
- Prohibiting fertilizer use for deicing from November 15 (December 1 for professionals) to March 1 and when the ground is frozen;
- Prohibiting application within 15 ft of a waterway (or 10 ft using specified applicators) and when heavy rain is predicted
Fines may be issued to both businesses and individuals for violating of the regulations.
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Another way to begin controlling nutrient pollution is through green infrastructure. In Southeast Michigan, home of the city of Detroit and 127 suburban communities, a movement is on to design for the future using green infrastructure, both natural and man-made. Called “The Green Infrastructure Vision for Southeast Michigan” the plan is a joint effort of many communities and groups under SEMCOG, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments.
The Vision looks at a number of factors, including water quality, which is not surprising since the area contains more than 100,000 acres of water, and includes Oakland County, the “wettest” county in the state with 35,100 acres of lakes, rivers and streams. In fact, during visioning sessions, protection of water quality was deemed as the top green infrastructure benefit by stakeholders and the public.
As a result, managing stormwater runoff within the greater, green, infrastructure system across multiple counties was determined to be a focus area especially with regard to the impacts on runoff from impervious cover areas. According to the Vision document, using land cover data of impervious surfaces, the area generates about 900 million gallons of stormwater runoff each year, which includes more than 800 tons of phosphorus and 140,000 tons of sediment.
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Recommendations include constructed measures such as bioswales, bioretention, tree planting, grow zones, porous pavement, and similar strategies to reduce runoff. These help to both trap stormwater for ground recharge but also keep nutrients segregated in areas where they can be used by plants on land, rather than in water, improving water quality and wildlife habitat.
Focusing on areas with impervious surfaces and on publicly owned properties, the Vision will further assess opportunities for managing rooftop and paved surface area runoff such as from public and private parking lots, major roadways with areas for right-of-way green infrastructure, and riparian corridors where vegetative buffers and forests can be installed. Opportunities are assessed watershed-by-watershed and include the eight major watersheds that are tributaries to Lake Huron, to Lake Erie Corridor, and 67 subwatersheds.