Protect Local Lakes With Annual 'Look For The Zero' Campaign

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — The annual "Look for the Zero" public awareness campaign launched this week to encourage local homeowners to go phosphorus-free when using lawn fertilizer.

"Spring is here and property owners are outside working to make sure their lawns look good, but there’s more to it than just green grass," said Basil Seggos, commissioner of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Many fertilizers contain phosphorus, even though most established lawns don't need it. Too much phosphorus is a reason for algae blooms in lakes or streams, some of which can make even touching the water dangerous, much less drinking it. SEE: Toxic Algae That Killed Dogs Found In New York.

Though even large blooms are not necessarily harmful, the New York DEC says it is best to avoid swimming, boating, otherwise recreating in, or drinking water with an algae bloom.

Right now, more than 100 water bodies in New York State are so deeply polluted due to phosphorus overuse that people's ability to use and enjoy them is limited and expensive fixes have to be tried. That includes:

Dutchess County

• Hillside Lake
• Wappingers Lake
• Fallkill Creek

Orange

• Monhagen Brook and its tributaries

Rockland

• Congers Lake
• Swartout Lake
• Rockland Lake

Putnam

• Lost Lake
• Putnam Lake

Westchester

• Saw Mill River
• Lake Shenorock
• Lake Lincolndale
• Lake Katonah
• Truesdale Lake
• Teatown Lake
• Lake Meahagh
• Wallace Pond
• Lake Mohegan
• Sheldrake River
• Silver Lake

In particular, the Monhagen Reservoir, which serves as the drinking water supply for the city of Middletown in Orange County, has suffered from hazardous algae blooms. Its feeder lakes have suffered periodic HAB outbreaks resulting in the need for creative diversions of water from unimpacted upstream reservoirs, use of algacides, and other strategies to deliver safe drinking water.

Then there's Putnam Lake, which suffered more than 30 weeks of documented HAB outbreaks between 2012-18. The 226-acre lake in the town of Patterson in Putnam County has shown elevated nutrient levels typical of other New York lakes that exhibit frequent HABs. It is part of the New York City watershed.

The DEC encourages consumers to review bag labels for phosphorus content when shopping for fertilizer. Fertilizer labels have three numbers and the number in the middle is the percentage of phosphorus in the product, such as: 22-0-15. Generally, only newly established lawns or those with poor soil need phosphorus.

Look for the zero on the fertilizer bag before bringing it home.

"Excess phosphorus is a threat to many New York waterbodies, triggering algae blooms and sometimes rendering waters un-swimmable and un-fishable," Seggos said. "If New Yorkers implement sustainable lawn care methods, we can help dramatically reduce phosphorus and pesticide use on lawns, which will protect water quality and public health while maintaining healthy backyards."

Visit DEC's Lawn Care webpage for more information.

Here's a protip for improving the health of your lawn. Grass clippings are 80 percent water and contain 2 to 4 percent nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and other nutrients. (Plus, leaving clippings saves you time after mowing and reduces the amount of garbage. Grass clippings can account for as much as 10 percent of garbage.)