LANSING – A plan proposed by State Representative Terry Brown (D-Pigeon) to protect the Great Lakes by severely restricting the use of fertilizer containing more than a minimal amount of phosphorus on residential lawns moved a step closer to reality today after receiving unanimous approval from a House committee. The plan now moves to the House floor for a vote.
"With excess phosphorus being a major cause of the muck problem in Saginaw Bay, we need to take action now to eliminate sources of unnecessary phosphorus," Brown said. "Most Michigan lawns already have enough phosphorus, and reducing runoff will cut down on the algae overgrowth in our waters. This plan will help consumers play a greater role in protecting the Great Lakes, which is our most precious natural resource and the greatest asset we have for creating good-paying jobs in multiple industries."
Brown's legislation is part of a multifaceted approach to solving Saginaw Bay's longstanding muck problem and protecting the rest of the Great Lakes. Thousands of jobs in the tourism, boating, fishing, agriculture and shipping industries rely on healthy Great Lakes water. The smelly muck that washes up on Lake Huron's beaches, which is sometimes toxic, also threatens Thumb residents' quality of life, shoreline property values and our legacy for future generations.
Phosphorus is already banned in laundry soap, and efforts are under way to ban it in dish soap as well. Brown's plan prohibits the use of fertilizer with more than a minimal amount of phosphorus on residential lawns except when needed. For example, it could be used when soil tests show there is not enough phosphorus in the lawn for it to be healthy or when a new lawn is just being established.
"A statewide law is the most effective way to make sure that residents and fertilizing companies are all on the same page when it comes to understanding the phosphorus guidelines that will both meet their needs and protect our waters," Brown said. "As we work on additional solutions to the muck problem, we need to take this step immediately."