Madison restricts fertilizers for lawns
0:37 AM 2/04/04
Dean Mosiman City government reporter

Madison is taking the fight to clean its murky lakes to your lawn. <

Beating Dane County to the punch, the City Council on Tuesday unanimously banned the sale, display and use of lawn and turf fertilizers containing more than a trace of phosphorus. <

The ban, effective Jan. 1, 2005, won't cover parkland restoration, golf courses, new lawns and phosphorus deficient soil. <

And a late change will let retailers sell to those living outside the city limits. <

Phosphorus is a chemical nutrient that contributes to cloudy algae blooms and muddies water clarity during summer months. <

"The science is there," said prime sponsor Ald. Greg Markle, 15th District. "If we can reduce phosphorus, we can help clean up our lakes." <

The ban won't create a phosphorus police, Markle assured. <

"The ordinance is complaint-driven," he said. "I highly doubt if people are going to be sneaking into their neighbors' garages." <

Opponents of the ordinance, including the Wisconsin Landscape Federation, argued that other factors contribute more heavily to algae blooms and that the law will be hard to enforce and have little impact. The law will lead to thinner lawns and more sediment running into lakes, they said. <

"We're asking for 3 percent (phosphorous, rather than trace), just a tiny amount," said Terry Kurth, owner of Weed Man Lawn Care. <

The city's law is even tougher than a proposal now before the County Board, which would also ban use of phosphorus with some exceptions, but would allow up to 25 percent of a retailers' fertilizer products on display to contain the chemical. <

The county's Lakes and Watershed Commission last month unanimously recommended passage of the county measure, which would apply to all cities, villages and towns. But municipalities can approve laws tougher than a county standard. <

"It's a ban on unnecessary phosphorus," said Steve Agar of the Friends of Monona Bay. "If you don't need it, don't use it." <

Also Tuesday, the council: <