Nitrogen pollution comes from sewage, fertilizers, and the atmosphere.

Nitrogen run-off is a major cause of eelgrass decline across southern New England and New York [1,2,3]. Excess nitrogen produces algal blooms that both shade the seagrass and produce toxins that can build up in fish and eelgrass tissues. The health of seagrass meadows can be an indicator of water quality and the impacts of land-based stressors, such as excessive fertilizer use.

• Limit fertilizer run-off

• Promote the best lawncare practices

• Promote the use of native plants instead of lawn

• Create vegetative buffers between lawns and shorelines

• Limit waste-water run-off

• Promote alternative septic systems

• Test and maintain septic systems

• Hold workshops for lawncare professionals

• Design and promote to homeowners’ fertilizer reduction and alternative programs

• Educate ferry workers and others to maximize compliance with the NY fertilizer ordinance

• Design and promote pesticide awareness campaigns

• Promote Suffolk County’s Reclaim Our Water Initiative, which provides grants to put in alternative septic systems

• Create a certification process to assess and document onsite septic system conditions and track maintenance.

1. Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Agriculture. (2007). An assessment of the impacts of commercial and recreational fishing and other activities to eelgrass in Connecticut’s waters and recommendations for management. State of Connecticut.

2. Short, F., Klein, A., Burdick, D., Moore, G. 2012. The eelgrass resource of Southern New England and New York: Science in support of management and restoration success-Phase I report. Cold Spring Harbor, NY: The Nature Conservancy. Available at: https://www.conservationgateway.org/Documents/UNH%20Eelgrass%20Final%20Report%202012.pdf

3. Woods Hole Group. 2014. Southern New England and New York Seagrass Research Towards Restoration – Phase II report. Cold Spring Harbor, NY: The Nature Conservancy. Available at: http://easterndivision.s3.amazonaws.com/Marine/Seagrass%20Report_Phase%20II_Final_05May14.pdf