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1. Management strategies to minimize fertilizer applications on municipal properties, <br /> athletic fields and parks; <br /> 2. Strategies to minimize,to the extent feasible, fertilizer applications on golf courses, as <br /> they represent 8.3%of the total controllable nitrogen load to Pleasant Bay; <br /> 3. Enforcement of 50-foot no disturb buffers around wetland resource areas, and restoration <br /> or enhancement of wetland buffers on existing properties where possible; <br /> 4. Outreach and education techniques for year-round residents, second home owners, and <br /> landscape professionals to encourage improved fertilizer practices; <br /> 5. Training for turf grass managers to encourage fertilizer and landscaping practices to <br /> minimize the use of nitrogen; and <br /> 6. Regulations to reduce the size of lawns created through future development within the <br /> watershed, as fertilizer applications from existing residential development constitutes <br /> 6.8%of the controllable load to the Bay. It is also recommended that local regulations <br /> specifying topsoil requirements, fertilizer application rates and use of native species be <br /> standardized and made consistent with the same best management practices used for <br /> outreach to homeowners and lawn care professionals. <br /> A discussion of each of these strategies follows, including specifics on the pros and cons of each <br /> option, how the strategy could be implemented, the potential cost, and the ability to sustain the <br /> strategy over time. In addition,the extent of nitrogen reduction from the strategy, and the ability <br /> to quantify this reduction to the point where it could be used to achieve compliance with a <br /> TMDL is discussed. <br /> During the development of these strategies, HW met with Brian Dudley of the Massachusetts <br /> DEP to discuss DEP's opinion on how specific approaches to fertilizer management could help <br /> reduce nitrogen loading to reach the TMDLs for Pleasant Bay. According to DEP's initial <br /> guidance,the strategies must show a direct,verifiable reduction in nitrogen loading for credit to <br /> be given towards a TMDL. Examples that could be verified include the reduction in existing <br /> lawn area on a property, a restriction in new lawn sizes, or quantifiable changes in fertilizers <br /> practices at municipal fields or golf courses. <br /> DEP also remains open to discussing how fertilizer reductions achieved through education and <br /> outreach could be achieved and quantified. We discussed the concept of a pilot outreach <br /> program to evaluate the extent of change in homeowner practices over time. The strategies <br /> discussed below take these issues into consideration. <br /> 5.1 MUNICIPAL FERTILIZER MANAGEMENT <br /> The Pleasant Bay municipalities will be looking to residents and golf courses to reduce their <br /> fertilizer use, and should set an example by addressing their own nitrogen fertilizer management <br /> practices. Although the Pleasant Bay municipalities currently only apply nitrogen fertilizer in <br /> limited quantities to a select number of properties, including their athletic fields,practices can <br /> change. We recommend that the Alliance work with the municipalities to develop best <br /> management practices,possibly including adoption of a policy or bylaw,to limit the amount of <br /> fertilizer applied to town properties over the long term. This would ensure that higher nitrogen <br /> Pleasant Bay Fertilizer Management Plan 29 Horsley Witten Group, Inc. <br /> Final Report December 2010 <br />