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Jack Merriam, Environmental Manager Sarasota County

The Sarasota County Fertilizer and Landscape Management Code: A Step Towards A Sustainable Sarasota County. Jack Merriam, Environmental Manager Sarasota County. Impaired water bodies. Fertilizer and Watering Demands Start with Development Techniques.

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Jack Merriam, Environmental Manager Sarasota County

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  1. The Sarasota County Fertilizer and Landscape Management Code: A Step Towards A Sustainable Sarasota County Jack Merriam, Environmental Manager Sarasota County

  2. Impaired water bodies

  3. Fertilizer and Watering Demands Start with Development Techniques

  4. Filling and Compacting Landscape Areas Cause Maintenance Problems

  5. SL 256: Soil pH and the Home Landscape or Garden Figure 1. The effect of soil pH nutrient availabilty.

  6. 1. Public Education New Sarasota County educational brochures

  7. The process • Determination that the county should be role model • Review of other ordinances • Community conversations • Development of community-based action plan • Passage of Resolution 2006-126, May 24, 2006 • Passage of Emergency Ordinance May 2007 • Final Ordinance No. 2007-062, Aug. 27, 2007

  8. Seven major categories identified • Public education • Licensing, certification and training of applicators • Design and development standards • Waterway setback zones: fertilizer-free zones • Application timing • Fertilizer products • Accountability

  9. Palmer Ranch DRI • 5,119 acre Master Development • 23 distinct communities • 10,500 units • 23 years of water quality monitoring

  10. Palmer Ranch DRI

  11. Palmer Ranch Master Property Owners Association • Manages the Palmer Ranches common areas • Improving landscape maintenance practices • Reduced Nitrogen fertilization • from 4-6 lbs/year prior 2006 to 0.5 lbs/last 18 months • Report healthier turf • Collecting data (~1½ years) • Soil conditions • Irrigation water quality • Soft tissue (leaf) concentrations

  12. Irrigation Water Analysis

  13. Leaf Analysis

  14. Soil Analysis

  15. Summary of experience… • Several major landscape maintenance companies report success. Need variance based on testing and need enforcement for level playing field. • One variance request received during Restricted Season • Palmer Ranch demonstrating stewardship by using sound science to drive maintenace needs/decisions

  16. Why manage fertilizer?

  17. Goal: Sustainable Sarasota County

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