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