Community reminded about fertilizer ordinance
The city of Sanibel recently reminded all residents, as well as landscape and fertilizer applicators, to give their fertilizer routine a summer vacation and abide by the city’s fertilizer ordinance this rainy season, which runs from July 1 through Sept. 30. By following the ordinance, the community can be part of the city’s ongoing effort to minimize local and regional nutrient pollution in local waterways.
Sanibel residents are reminded:
– It is a violation of city Ordinance 07-003 to apply fertilizers containing nitrogen and phosphorous during the rainy season (July 1 through Sept. 30).
– Fertilizers cannot be applied within 25 feet of a body of water, including lakes, ponds, canals, wetlands and the Sanibel Slough.
– Fertilizers cannot be applied to impervious surfaces, such as roadways, driveways and sidewalks. Any spills should be cleaned up immediately.
– Fertilizers cannot be applied to stormwater conveyance systems or catch basins, which includes roadside swales.
The city reported that algae blooms are stimulated by excess nutrients, like nitrogen and phosphorus. When fertilizer is applied incorrectly, stormwater runoff containing nutrients from fertilizer applications can enter aquatic environments and feed algae, resulting in a bloom. Follow the fertilizer ordinance to help reduce the amount of “food” available and likelihood of an algae bloom occurring.
It noted that the storm surges from Hurricanes Ian, Helene and Milton also significantly increased nutrient concentrations in Sanibel’s inland waterbodies, making it even more critical that the community adhere to the fertilizer ordinance to prevent further degradation.
The city continued that as a responsible property owner, it is important to be aware of activities occurring in one’s yard. Fertilizer applicators working on Sanibel are required to have a valid Limited Urban Commercial Fertilizer Applicator Certification from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. It is also important to speak to one’s fertilizer applicator regarding the property’s nutrient program to ensure that it aligns with the requirements of the city’s ordinance.
For more information about Sanibel’s fertilizer ordinance, visit https://www.mysanibel.com/402/Sanibels-Fertilizer-Information.
For more information about how to help protect local waters, visit the Sanibel Communities for Clean Water Program at https://www.sanibelcleanwater.org/.
For more information about Lee County and the city’s Fertilize Smart initiative, visit http://fertilizesmart.com/.
For additional information, contact the city’s Natural Resources Department at 239-472-3700 or sandnr@mysanibel.com.