City Council moves to approve stronger fertilizer ordinance

Reducing storm water runoff from draining canals such as the one pictured above, eliminating septic tanks near the Lagoon and canals and restricting fertilizers are, according to experts, the only three approaches to reversing the decline of the Lagoon. — Reducing storm water runoff from drainage canals such as the one pictured above, eliminating septic tanks near the Lagoon and canals and restricting fertilizers are, according to experts, the only three approaches to reversing the decline of the Lagoon.

MARK SCHUMANN

By a vote of 5-0, the Vero Beach City Council last night approved the first reading of a more restrictive fertilizer ordinance which essentially mirrors regulations recently adopted by the Indian River County Commission. A second public hearing of the City’s ordinance is set for Nov. 5.

The proposed, more restrictive regulations are intended to reduce nutrient runoff into the Indian River Lagoon by banning fertilizer application from June 1 through Sept. 30 and requiring all fertilizer to be composed of at least 50 percent slow-release nitrogen. Golf courses, athletic fields and similar public facilities are exempted from the proposed ordinance.

Caving to pressure from representatives of the fertilizer industry, the Sebastian City Council recently rejected a proposed ordinance that, along with the new County ordinance and the one likely to be approved by the Vero Beach City Council Nov. 5, would have made possible a truly regional approach. Andria Coy, the only Sebastian City Council member to support stronger fertilizer restrictions, expressed deep disappointment her city chose to follow the County’s lead.

The recent loss of nearly half the vital sea grasses in the Lagoon has heightened concern among elected officials and has motivated environmentalists to increase pressure on local governments to act.

Lagoon advocate, John Orcutt, told the Council that basically only three solutions to addressing the plight of one of North America’s most diverse estuaries: storm water management, eliminating the impact of septic tanks and regulating fertilizer.

2 comments

How did they justify exempting anyone from following the new ordinance? We missed the Council meeting but will try to catch it on replay. Glad they agreed to tougher regulations. Sorry to hear that Sebastian’s Council – other than Andria Coy – refused to support this joint effort to improve the lagoon’s condition. We may not have this golden opportunity to join forces for the good of all again. Only time will tell.

its a moot ordinances. they don’t even enforce the water restrictions. I have seen sprinklers working on days when they shouldn’t be on per the limits