Science & Outdoors
WISPIRG is trying to halt the spread of phosphorus in Wisconsin’s lakes, such as Lake Dubay in Portage Co.
UW-SP group to help ban phosphorus in fertilizer
The Pointer
jspra793@uwsp.edu
A group at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point is committed to assisting in the goal of passing the first environmental victory of the year for the state.
The hope is to encourage legislators, through petition signatures, e-mails and postcards, to pass the Clean Lakes Bill, which prohibits the use of phosphorus in lawn fertilizers.
The Wisconsin Public Interest Research Group at UW-SP is finishing up their “Save our Lakes” campaign with about 90 postcards and 80 e-mails petitioning the bill, said Kevin Hite, the group’s environmental coordinator.
“It’s calling for a statewide ban on the retail sale of phosphorus containing fertilizer,” said Colleen Kiefer, WISPIRG president. “It’s not a ban on agriculture use; it’s only for non-agriculture commercial products.”
Polluted runoff is the state’s number-one water quality problem, according to the Wisconsin Association of Lakes. It occurs when chemicals like phosphorus flow into nearby surface waters instead of seeping into the soil.
This has led to eutrophication in many lakes which develops from the access of nutrient-rich chemicals in fertilizers or sewage, like phosphorus. These nutrients contribute to an overgrowth of plant life which depletes the amount of oxygen in the water, such as an algae bloom. Plants and organisms in these infected waters become threatened by the lack of oxygen.
These lawn fertilizers are degrading 90 percent of Wis. inland lakes and could be triggering an increase of invasive species, said Hite.
Minnesota was the first state in the U.S. to pass a ban on the retail sale of phosphorus fertilizer in 2002.
Dane county followed in 2004, and like Minn., the ordinance allows citizens a soil test to determine whether or not their soil is depleted of nutrients and, therefore, able to use phosphorus lawn fertilizer.
“You need to get a proper soil test to prove that there is a deficiency,” Hite said. “Then you can purchase the proper fertilizer, which is very few spots in Wisconsin.”
WISPIRG has been tabling in the Dreyfus University Center to get students to send their comments to legislators to pass the bill, said Kiefer.
Members of the group will be attending the WI League of Conservation Voters Lobby Day in Madison next Wednesday. They will speak with state representatives to show how important this issue is, said Hite.
Postcards can be filled out at
http://www.wisconsinenvironment.org/action/clean-water2?id4=ES or you can e-mail a representative with any concerns.
WISPIRG meets every Monday at 7 p.m. in conference room 054 of the DUC.
