Residential Environment and Landscape Management

Water quality impairments from rural and suburban household sources are seldom strategically addressed on a regional basis, even though residential lawn care, household water and wastewater, and professional landscaping activities affect an increasingly large portion of the region's nonagricultural, rural acreage. Explosive rural and suburban development in the Mid-Atlantic region is contributing to this growing problem.

Regional Program Activities and Resources

From Our Backyards to the Bay

An Urban (Suburban) Nutrient Management Forum

Presented by the Middle Potomac Tributary Team and sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Regional Water Program.

View the presentations and some supporting documents from the November 16, 2005 forum. The morning sessions were developed to help the audience understand much of the science related to fertilizer and suburban lawn settings. Research results concerning managed turf and some consequences of unintentional over-fertilization and improper fertilization were related to nutrient losses.

Afternoon presentations were given by individuals with unique policy approaches from Wisconsin and Minnesota , as well as Maryland and Virginia perspectives. The forum closed with approaches and perspectives from the fertilizer industry (both the DIY and lawn care components).

Click here to view more information on the forum

Home Turf and Lawn Care

The contribution of nutrients to ground and surface waters from developed lands continues to increase in the Mid-Atlantic, due to the increase in rural and suburban residential acreage as well as increased per capita use of nutrients in primarily residential settings Since education is the first line of defense for this largely unregulated sector, much of the Regional program focus has targeted educational materials and programming to home owners, lawn care professionals and others in this arena.

Research

Extension:

Homeowner tips and information for responsible lawn care practices

http://mawaterquality.org/Grass/grass1.html

On-site Waste Disposal Management

Homeowners in many areas across the region rely on on-site and decentralized wastewater disposal systems. Unfortunately, many are poorly educated regarding appropriate maintenance and long-term operation of traditional systems, and even fewer understand the inherent benefits of advanced treatment systems to local and regional water quality.

Research:

Extension:

Information and resources for septic system owners from the University of Maryland. http://www.agnr.umd.edu/users/wye/personel/Miller/septic.html

Regional Resources:

Fertilize Wisely
Fertilizer is important for a healthy lawn but only if applied in the proper quantities at the proper time. Misapplication of fertilizer can result in runoff to surface water or leaching to groundwater resulting in algal blooms and conditions that promote unhealthy water systems.

Water Quality & Environmental Programs
This website provides a list of publications and information geared to the suburban homeowner regarding water quality and environmental programs. Topics include ground water and surface water hydrology, water conservation, water testing, septic systems, drinking water wells and other related environmental topics. 

NurseryWeb
Nutrient Management homepage for the Green Industry at the University of Maryland, designed to provide the latest Legislative information on the Maryland Water Quality Act of 1998, and the information required to provide in nutrient management plans for your business. Also available are useful the links to information resources where you may find additional information from various state and government agencies. 

Pennsylvania Nutrient Management Program
Description: This web site provides a comprehensive source of information about Pennsylvania's Nutrient Management Act (Act 6, 1993) Program, and associated technical guidance and educational information. The site and the program are cooperative partnerships among PA Conservation Commission, Penn State University, NRCS, PA Dept of Agriculture and the PA Dept of Environmental Protection. 

Penn State's Nutrient Management Portal Page
This is Penn State's portal page, the College of Agricultural Science's nutrient management portal page, gives links to several department level sites on Livestock Oriented Information, Regulations & Planning Resources, Water & Environmental Policy, Phosphorus & the P-index, and agriculturally related Air Quality. 

Mid Atlantic Composting Association
The Mid-Atlantic Composting Association (MACA) is an association of composters (commercial and
backyard), state and federal agency personnel, university researchers, public utilities, and other interested parties who have a interest and commitment to composting.

Nursery-Web
NurseryWeb, an Information Portal for the Nursery, Greenhouse and Landscape Industries in Maryland.

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Please direct questions and comments about this page to Jake Vandevort

Page Last Updated On: January 16, 2007