Great Lakes Article:

Allegan County approves ban on phosphorus lawn fertilizer
By Rod Smith
Kalamazoo Gazette
Published February 15, 2008

ALLEGAN -- Starting next year, phosphorus-based lawn fertilizer will be largely prohibited on residential lawns in Allegan County.

The county Board of Commissioners adopted the ban after a public hearing Thursday at which four people voiced support for the ordinance. The board approved the ordinance, which takes effect Jan. 1, by an 8-2 vote.

Jamie Cross, of the Alliance for the Great Lakes, said phosphorus promotes plant growth and can lead to algae blooms and weeds in lakes.

``When those weeds die off, they can deplete oxygen and lead to fish kills,'' Cross said. ``The algae issue is becoming bigger and bigger in the state of Michigan.''

According to a letter from the Lake Allegan / Kalamazoo River Watershed Phosphorus Total Maximum Daily Load Implementation Committee, one pound of phosphorus can support growth of 500 pounds of algae.

Board member Max Thiele opposed the ban, saying it wasn't enforceable and that its implementation was a ``mad rush to judgment.''

``Let it be clear that I concur with my associates' concern about the impact phosphorus has on the waters of our county,'' Thiele said, but he said he did not believe the county had the authority to ban phosphorus fertilizer.

He and board member Don Black voted against the ordinance.

``It's not a complete prohibition,'' board Chairman Steve McNeal said.

Exemptions permitted under the ordinance include newly established turf when soil tests show a phosphorus level is less than that established by the Michigan State University Extension for agricultural or garden use or in situations where phosphorus is needed when applying compost.

Violation of the ordinance would be a civil infraction costing $50 per violation for homeowners. Commercial users would pay $50 for the first violation in a 12-month period, $150 for the second and $300 for each violation thereafter.