A presentation on best management practices for reducing nutrients from landscaping on Nantucket, Massachusetts. Presented by Cormac Collier, Executive Director of the Nantucket Land Council, during the Buzzards Bay Coalition's 2013 Decision Makers Workshop series. Learn more at www.savebuzzardsbay.org/DecisionMakers

1. Best Management Practices For
Reducing Nutrients from Landscaping
Buzzards Bay Coalition
Decision Makers Workshop
March 20, 2013
Cormac Collier
Executive Director
Nantucket Land Council, Inc

2. Objectives
Nutrient overloading issues on Nantucket
Community Education
Process for creating BOH regulations
Overview of Best Management Practices

3. Nantucket Land Council, Inc.
Established in 1974, the Nantucket Land Council is the only
environmental watchdog group on Nantucket. The NLC works to
protect Nantucket’s natural resources in three major areas –planning,
protecting, preserving
Planning - The NLC monitors development
proposals, offers educational programs, grants
and scholarships and makes recommendation
to voters on issues which affect the environment
Protecting - The NLC conducts scientific
research to support the protection of our natural
resources such as native species, wildlife habitat,
and water quality
Preserving - The NLC specializes in holding
conservation restrictions.

5. Plant Communities of Nantucket
• Sandplain grasslands
• Heathlands
• Coastal Shrublands/ scrub oak
• Red Maple/tupelo forests
Nantucket Soils
• Dominated by sands and fine gravels with low
organic matter content.
• Soils readily allow water to infiltrate and are prone
to nutrient leaching.
• Pockets of clay in the north with impermeable
layers of clay several feet underground.

6. Sources of Nutrient Pollution
Atmospheric Deposition
- Direct Rainfall
- Stormwater runfoff
Septic
Fertilizer

7. Water Quality
Documented increase in nutrients in Nantucket’s
coastal embayments and freshwater bodies
Massachusetts Estuary Report
Remediation efforts have targeted septic
systems, expansion of sewer, stormwater
infrastructure and most recently fertilizer.

13. 45% of the island is protected by
various conservation organizations

14. How does a community
reduce inappropriate
fertilizer use?
Education
Regulation

15. Indicator Species
Community Symbol

16. No Eelgrass = No Scallops

17. Watershed Approach
1990 Water
Resources
Management Plan by
HWW, delineated all
the island watersheds
Regulations and
education directed at
watershed land use.
Similar to Wellhead
Recharge District
management

22. Recent efforts to reduce nutrient
leaching from fertilizers
Citizen’s Article at 2010 Town Meeting proposed to
regulate fertilizer use island wide
- Reintroduced the issue back into the community
through a direct legislative attempt at control
- Language of article was flawed
- Proponents did not gather community wide
consensus. Lack of input from broad range of
individuals and practitioners
- Regulations needed to be science based.

23. Formation of “Article 68” Workgroup
Charge:
 Develop a comprehensive plan to reduce the amount
of nitrogen and phosphorus in our harbors.

Develop an implementation plan, budget, and
timeframe.

24. Committee Members
Non-profits
Conservation Commission
Landscape professionals
Golf course managers
Fishermen
Concerned Citizens
Politicians

25. Committee Recommendations
New Board of Health Regulations & Home Rule
Petition
 Type, quantity, timing
 Island wide
Creation of a Best Management Practices
Manual
Educational initiatives & training for homeowners
and landscape professionals

26. TOWN OF NANTUCKET BOARD OF HEALTH REGULATIONS
THE CONTENT AND APPLICATION OF FERTILIZER
FOR USE ON NANTUCKET REG 75.00
Core standards

No fertilizer application between Oct.16 – April 14
 No Phosphorus unless a soil test indicates a
deficiency
 No more than a total of 3lbs of nitrogen per 1000 sq ft
per year.
 No more than .25lbs of quick release nitrogen per
1000 sq feet per application and no more than .5lbs
total per application
 Applications two weeks apart. Inspect and monitor

27. Standards for Commercial
Applicators
All Commercial Applicators must receive a
license from Board of Health and follow
the Best Management Practices Manual.
Enforcement ???

Non-Criminal Disposition
$300 per day for each day of violation

29. Objectives of BMP
To provide landscape professionals and homeowners with
information for making environmentally sound landscaping decisions
that take Nantucket’s unique conditions and natural resources into
consideration
To promote the protection of water resources while maintaining
healthy and vibrant ornamental landscapes
To reduce the amount of fertilizer use by promoting cultural
practices that help reduce nutrient inputs
To offer site planning guidelines and suggestions for ecological
restoration that help reduce island-wide fertilizer dependent
landscapes
To provide science based guidance for nutrient management of
lawns and gardens on Nantucket

30. BMP

Site Assessment
Identifying Site Conditions
Site planning for new construction
Site planning for existing landscapes
Choosing a management plan

31. Soil Nutrients & Soil Test
Why test your soil?
Tips for obtaining a good
sample
Sample soil test

33. Fertilizer Types and Sources

Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium NPK
 Nitrogen
- Slow Release
Water insoluble
Coated slow release
- Water soluble

34. The Role of Compost
• Provides organic matter
• Food source for beneficial
bacteria and fungi
• Improves moisture
retention
• Improves nutrient retention
• Is considered a fertilizer for
the purposes of the
BMP
Typical percentages of N and P in compost from various sources
Compost Type %N %P
Leaf litter 0.1 0.05–0.2
Horse manure 0.5–1.5 0.5–1.5
Lawn, garden, and food waste 1.0–1.5 1.0–1.5
Dairy manure 1.0–1.5 1.0–1.5
Feedlot manure 1.0–1.5 1.0–1.5
Poultry manure 1.5–2.0 1.5–2.5

35. Fertilizer Application
Spoon feeding concept
No fertilizer application between Oct.16 – April 14
No Phosphorus unless a soil test indicates a deficiency
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 is preferred.
Business model change
No more than a total of 3lbs of nitrogen per 1000 sq ft per year.
Applications are two weeks apart.
Issues to consider
Recycling of grass clippings
Continued compost applications
Foliar feeding
Spreader calibration
Record Keeping

36. Sample management plans
Guidelines for establishment and renovation of turfgrass
Nutrient Management of gardens, trees and shrubs
Role of irrigation
Native Plants
Turf Care Cultural Practices
 Mowing frequency & height

Recycling clippings

Core aeration

Dethatching

Top-dressing

37. Implementation
Education & Outreach
Landscape Professionals
Homeowners
Retail
Licensing
Government Follow Through

38. Questions?