Bill would stop unnecessary phosphorus from polluting our waters

Released 1/12/29. Contact Tami Jackson (608-661-4313, lakeinfo@wisconsinlakes.org)

The Wisconsin Association of Lakes has been working with the legislature toward statewide legislation—based on Dane County’s existing ordinance—to ban the use and sale of phosphorus lawn fertilizer (with a few reasonable exceptions).

Senators Mark Miller (D-Monona) and Robert Cowles (R-Green Bay) and Representatives Spencer Black (D-Madison) and Garey Bies (R-Sister Bay) have introduced a bill that would restrict phosphorus in lawn fertilizer.

Wisconsin lawns and soils already contain adequate—and often excessive—amounts of phosphorus. Soil test results from across the state show phosphorus levels in residential lawns often contain five times more phosphorus than necessary for healthy lawns. Using phosphorus-free lawn fertilizer is one easy way everyone can contribute to better water quality—regardless of where they live.

“Wisconsin lakes are a precious resource and essential to Wisconsin’s culture and sense of identity,” said Sen. Mark Miller. “Phosphorus from lawn fertilizers can runoff into our lakes and streams and have a negative impact on water quality.”

“This is the first step of many we will be taking this legislative session to clean up our lakes and protect our water resources,” said Rep. Black, the new Chair of the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.  “Wisconsin citizens love our outdoors and want us to take reasonable measures to protect it.”

Nutrients like phosphorus—a common ingredient in lawn fertilizer—are degrading 90% of Wisconsin’s inland lakes. Excess phosphorus from lawns can wash directly into our lakes and streams, causing smelly algae blooms, fish kills, and declining water quality. Lakes and rivers can be extremely sensitive to small amounts of phosphorus runoff.

“Plants don’t absorb more phosphorus than they can use. When the soil is saturated with too much Phosphorus, it starts bleeding out, toward streams and lakes,” says Tami Jackson, Wisconsin Association of Lakes Communications Director.

 “Switching to non-phosphorus fertilizers is a simple way to improve water quality and help control polluted runoff,” Miller said.

A growing body of research finds using phosphorus free lawn fertilizer is a common sense, simple, and cost effective way to reduce the amount of nutrients entering our waterways. This simple, common sense bill doesn’t result in any increased costs for consumers, retailers, or taxpayers. It’s a policy that is has been working in Dane County, Minnesota, and parts of Michigan for several years.

“We can have a green lawn and cleaner lakes. There is too much phosphorous in our lakes and enough in our soil. Keeping phosphorous out of  lawn fertilizer makes sense,” said County Supervisor Brett Hulsey, Chair of the Dane County Lakes and Watersheds Commission. “We phased out phosphorous in Dane County and we know that it works to clean up our lakes.”