![Page 1: Jack Merriam, Environmental Manager Sarasota County](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032612/56813187550346895d97fc3d/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
The Sarasota County Fertilizer and Landscape Management
Code: A Step Towards A
Sustainable Sarasota County
Jack Merriam, Environmental ManagerSarasota County
![Page 2: Jack Merriam, Environmental Manager Sarasota County](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032612/56813187550346895d97fc3d/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Impaired water bodies
![Page 3: Jack Merriam, Environmental Manager Sarasota County](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032612/56813187550346895d97fc3d/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
Fertilizer and Watering Demands Start with Development Techniques
![Page 4: Jack Merriam, Environmental Manager Sarasota County](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032612/56813187550346895d97fc3d/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Filling and Compacting Landscape Areas Cause Maintenance Problems
![Page 5: Jack Merriam, Environmental Manager Sarasota County](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032612/56813187550346895d97fc3d/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
SL 256: Soil pH and the Home Landscape or Garden
Figure 1. The effect of soil pH nutrient Figure 1. The effect of soil pH nutrient availabilty.availabilty.
![Page 6: Jack Merriam, Environmental Manager Sarasota County](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032612/56813187550346895d97fc3d/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
New Sarasota County educational brochures
1. Public Education
![Page 7: Jack Merriam, Environmental Manager Sarasota County](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032612/56813187550346895d97fc3d/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
• Determination that the county should be role model
• Review of other ordinances
• Community conversations
• Development of community-based action plan
• Passage of Resolution 2006-126, May 24, 2006
• Passage of Emergency Ordinance May 2007
• Final Ordinance No. 2007-062, Aug. 27, 2007
The process
![Page 8: Jack Merriam, Environmental Manager Sarasota County](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032612/56813187550346895d97fc3d/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Seven major categories identified1. Public education
2. Licensing, certification and training
of applicators
3. Design and development standards
4. Waterway setback zones: fertilizer-free zones
5. Application timing
6. Fertilizer products
7. Accountability
![Page 9: Jack Merriam, Environmental Manager Sarasota County](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032612/56813187550346895d97fc3d/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
![Page 10: Jack Merriam, Environmental Manager Sarasota County](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032612/56813187550346895d97fc3d/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
![Page 11: Jack Merriam, Environmental Manager Sarasota County](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032612/56813187550346895d97fc3d/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
![Page 12: Jack Merriam, Environmental Manager Sarasota County](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032612/56813187550346895d97fc3d/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
![Page 13: Jack Merriam, Environmental Manager Sarasota County](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032612/56813187550346895d97fc3d/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
![Page 14: Jack Merriam, Environmental Manager Sarasota County](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032612/56813187550346895d97fc3d/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
![Page 15: Jack Merriam, Environmental Manager Sarasota County](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032612/56813187550346895d97fc3d/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
![Page 16: Jack Merriam, Environmental Manager Sarasota County](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032612/56813187550346895d97fc3d/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
Palmer Ranch DRI
• 5,119 acre Master Development
• 23 distinct communities
• 10,500 units
• 23 years of water quality monitoring
![Page 17: Jack Merriam, Environmental Manager Sarasota County](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032612/56813187550346895d97fc3d/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
Palmer Ranch DRI
![Page 18: Jack Merriam, Environmental Manager Sarasota County](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032612/56813187550346895d97fc3d/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
Palmer Ranch Master Property Owners Association
• Manages the Palmer Ranches common areas• Improving landscape maintenance practices
– Reduced Nitrogen fertilization – from 4-6 lbs/year prior 2006 to 0.5
lbs/last 18 months– Report healthier turf
• Collecting data (~1½ years)– Soil conditions– Irrigation water quality– Soft tissue (leaf) concentrations
![Page 19: Jack Merriam, Environmental Manager Sarasota County](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032612/56813187550346895d97fc3d/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
Irrigation Water Analysis
![Page 20: Jack Merriam, Environmental Manager Sarasota County](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032612/56813187550346895d97fc3d/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
Leaf Analysis
![Page 21: Jack Merriam, Environmental Manager Sarasota County](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032612/56813187550346895d97fc3d/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
Soil Analysis
![Page 22: Jack Merriam, Environmental Manager Sarasota County](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032612/56813187550346895d97fc3d/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
Summary of experience…• Several major landscape maintenance companies
report success. Need variance based on testing and need enforcement for level playing field.
• One variance request received during Restricted Season
• Palmer Ranch demonstrating stewardship by using sound science to drive maintenace needs/decisions
![Page 23: Jack Merriam, Environmental Manager Sarasota County](https://reader030.vdocuments.us/reader030/viewer/2022032612/56813187550346895d97fc3d/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
Why manage fertilizer?