Renew America Success Stories

Better Lawns and Gutters

Description

Better Lawns and Gutters is a county-sponsored educational program designed to change the landscaping habits of residents in order to protect local lakes and streams.

The program originated in response to the recognition that the majority of pollution entering Dane County's 26 lakes is from nonpoint sources (that is, pollution that enters from more than one source point, such as motor oil dumped into storm sewers). Because of this pollution, most of Dane County's lakes are eutrophic (over-rich in nutrients), which causes algae blooms, weed growth, oxygen depletion, fish kills and hazards to swimmers and boaters. In addition, bacteria contamination from sources such as pet waste has led to swimming beaches being closed due to health risks.

Through the Better Lawns and Gutters program, residents are being taught how to reduce fertilizer and pesticide use, how to more safely dispose of pet waste and how to reduce stormwater runoff.

The program teaches residents these new techniques through a series of home demonstrations. In exchange for free landscaping consultations, several homeowners serve as demonstration laboratories for low-impact gardening and landscaping techniques. Homes that are chosen typically illustrate poor "before" behavior: pet waste on the lawns, down spouts directed toward sidewalks or driveways, poor or no vegetative cover on slopes or shaded areas and excessively fertilized turf.

Follow-up surveys given to attendees of these demonstrations indicate that nearly everyone finds at least one technique he or she can apply to his or her own property.

"We've learned ways to control weeds without using chemicals, like adjusting mowing height and mowing frequency," says Barb Hornik, a homeowner in Dane County. "We're just trying to be environmentally responsible."

Program Highlights

Health of the Lakes

Storm water samples taken from a typical neighborhood have repeatedly indicated that the water in many lakes has acutely toxic levels of copper and zinc, excessive loading nutrients, residue from six pesticides and coliform bacteria counts in excess of the state health standards by a factor greater than 100. Typically these problems are made worse by:

• Leaves, grass clippings and fertilizers that flow into the waterways and encourage weed growth in lakes and streams.
• Oil, pesticides, road salt, pet waste, bacteria and metals (such as lead) that are improperly used or disposed of.
• Soil and sediment that enter the water bodies through erosion.
• Stormwater from rooftops, lawns, driveways and streets that flows untreated into local water bodies.

Techniques taught by the Better Lawns and Gutters program include:

• Composting leaves and grass clippings
• Reducing or eliminating pesticide use
• Directing roof downspouts to areas where the water will soak into the ground
• Covering bare soil with mulch
• Burying or flushing pet waste
• Recycling waste oil
• Testing soil before fertilizing
• Introducing worms for garden aeration rather than using a machine to poke holes in the lawn
• Using benign alternatives to household cleaning products, such as baking soda and vinegar as a clog remover.

Vital Statistics

Program Management/Partnerships: Better Lawns and Gutters is a project of the Dane County Extension Service and works in partnership with the Dane County Lakes and Watershed Commission, the Yahara/Monona Priority Watershed Association, the Regional Planning Commission, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, educational institutions, private companies, volunteer groups and local nonprofit groups such as the Boy Scouts and local Master Gardener groups.

Budget: $5,000 - $10,000 annually.

Community Served: The residents of Dane and Madison counties who rely on local lakes for drinking water, recreation and environmental health.

Measures of Success:

More than 300 people attended the first field day and walking tour.

Follow-up surveys given to residents who have participated in the program indicate that 100% make some change in their landscaping habits. Changed behavior includes repairing gutters, installing porous pavement, vegetating sloping areas, testing soil before applying fertilizer and sharpening mower blades.

One household replaced their lawn with a perennial garden, including flax, sedum, ajuga, viola, columbine, beebaum, chokeberry, dogwood, bellflower, coneflower, lavender, Maltese cross, Siberian iris and sweet woodruff. Maintenance of a perennial garden is far lower than for a typical lawn. No power mower is needed, no grass clippings will be produced and less fertilizer is needed.

10,000 copies of Better Lawns and Gutters, a guide to low-impact landscaping, gardening and home maintenance practices, have been published and distributed.

Wisconsin Public Television has produced a video documenting a demonstration field day, which has been used as part of a series of videos on non-point pollution control that has been distributed state wide.

The Better Lawns and Gutters program has won state, regional and national awards, including an award given by the citizens of Dane and Madison counties for constructive environmental achievement.

Success stories designed by Mark W. Nowak

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