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MEDIA RELEASE

For Immediate Release

Contact Don Ystad, 14 Mile Creek Watershed Committee Chair, 262-894-9423 or dystad@gmail.com

 COMMITMENT TO FERTILIZER ORDINANCE

LOCAL AREA PERFERRED APPLICATORS

Rome, WI (March 22, 2019) – The Town of Rome is committed to improving the water quality of the lakes and streams within our boundaries.  As part of this commitment the Town, in conjunction with the 14 Mile Joint Watershed Committee, launched a Preferred Fertilizer Applicator Recognition Program.  Licensed Professional Fertilizer Applicators who provide services in the Town of Rome were asked to join the effort by committing to adhere to the Town’s Fertilizer Ordinance.  Below is a list of preferred applicators, who have pledged to follow best practices for lake quality and signed the commitment to the fertilizer ordinance.

Preferred Fertilizer Applicators:

·         NatureScape

·         Paul’s Lawn Care

·         Rapid Quality Lawn & Landscaping

·         Schalows Nursery

·         Spring-Green Lawn Care

·         Stay Green Sprinkler Systems

If you’ll be using a fertilizer service during the 2019 season, please consider using one these applicators.  If your lawn care provider is not listed, please ask them to sign the commitment.  Any additional companies who sign the commitment will be periodically added to the Preferred Applicator list, which will be kept on the Town of Rome’s web site.  Additionally, if you prefer to apply your own lawn fertilizer, we would strongly encourage you to review the fertilizer ordinance and use the Preferred Applicator methods.    

To review the Fertilizer Ordinance in it’s entirely, please visit https://www.romewi.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/9-CHAPTER-09-OFFENSES-AND-NUISANCES.pdf, and scroll to section 9.09.  

Disclaimer – The Town of Rome makes information available on its website and in media releases to enhance public knowledge and to provide a better understanding of the Town and its government.  This release is not advertising for any of the above-listed businesses, and the Town of Rome does not guarantee the work of the companies.  All information contained herein is supplied “as is” and the Town of Rome disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, related to said information, including but not limited to, accuracy, the completeness or suitability of said information, and any implied warranties of any provider or information contained in this release for any particular purpose.

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14 Mile Joint Watershed Committee is a public led advisory committee that was reconfirmed by the Tri-Lakes Management District at its 2017 Annual Meeting.  It is made up of private citizens representing Lakes Camelot, Sherwood, Arrowhead and Petenwell, as well as citizens at large, representatives of the Town of Rome, Wisconsin DNR, and Adams County Land Conservation.  The objective of the committee is to improve water quality in our Town’s lakes and streams, realizing that there are a number of contributing factors including, but not limited to upstream agriculture, shoreline erosion, fertilizer application, septic systems and water flow.

The committee seeks to build upon various groups to partner in its endeavor to improve water quality and the health of the lakes and streams in the 14 Mile Watershed.  Groups identified to lead this effort include the following: Lake Sherwood Property Owners Association, Lake Camelot Property Owners Association, Lake Arrowhead Property Owners Association, Petenwell and Castle Rock Stewards, Town of Rome and Adams County.

Synopsis of the Town of Rome Fertilizer Ordinance    

· Only use lawn fertilizers with 0% phosphorus or other compound containing phosphorus, such as phosphate.  · Only use lawn fertilizers labeled as containing less than 20% slow release nitrogen.  · Don’t apply lawn fertilizer when the ground is frozen.  · Be careful not to apply fertilizer to impervious surfaces including parking lots, roadways, and sidewalks.  · Buffer zones of 35 feet are required by state law for lakes, streams, wetland and ponds and fertilizer should not be applied to the buffer zones.  · Lawn clippings cannot be discharged into any drainage ditch, lake, stream or creek.

Remember these Best Practices in Fertilizing your Lawn     

· Soil tests should be done every three years to support fertilizer applications.  · Lake friendly slow release granular fertilizer should be used; quick release granular or liquid fertilizer should not be used.  · Nitrogen applications should be limited to 1 pound and 8 ounces per 1,000 square feet per application.  · Applications of lime will assist plants to take up more nutrients.  · Limit fertilizer applications to three times per year unless soil samples call for additional applications.  · If clippings are not bagged, two annual applications should be considered.  · If lake water is used for irrigation, two annual applications should be considered.  · Fertilizer should not be applied within 24 hours of forecasted significant rainfall.  Irrigation systems should not be operated within 24 hours of a fertilizer application except for a lite application to introduce the fertilizer to the ground surface.