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Introduction

Phosphorus pollution threatens our aquatic ecosystems, fouls our water supplies, and diminishes the recreational and economic benefits of clean lakes, rivers, and streams. The sources of phosphorus pollution include concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs), agricultural fertilizers, erosion, and common domestic and garden products. This policy issues package is designed to help state legislators target phosphorus pollution from two sources: lawn fertilizers and cleaning agents (including automatic dishwashing detergents, or ADDs).

Photo courtesy of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Services

 In order to ensure that the damage caused by phosphorus pollution in your state is diminished (or prevented), it must be addressed at every source; even small amounts of human-related phosphorous loading in our watersheds can cause algae blooms that lead to public health risks and aquatic ecosystem failure. Minnesota is a state whose heritage is strongly tied to the thousands of freshwater lakes that dot its landscape. Perhaps this is why it is the only state in the union to pass a law preventing the sale or use of lawn fertilizer containing phosphates, and why some state legislators want to pass a law that will phase out phosphates in cleaning agents, including ADDs. The bill texts in this policy issues package are based on the efforts by this state.

This web site offers the tools necessary for you to introduce and pass legislation to reduce phosphorus pollution in your state. These tools include sample legislation, talking points, press clips, a fact pack, links, and other background information.

We may have other useful materials on this subject, which are not posted on our web site. Please feel free to contact us at info@serconline.org or call our office in Madison, Wisconsin, at (608) 252-9800.

If you’ve used this site and found it helpful or, if you have suggestions about how it could be made more helpful, please let us know. Feel free to use the sample bill text included here in your state. If you do, please notify us.

This package was last updated on January 27, 2005.