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It seems unbelievable, but fertilizer and pesticides from your yard could end up in Puget Sound! Lawn chemicals leave behind residues that wash off with rain and travel with stormwater runoff to Puget Sound or into the groundwater table. To prevent outdoor chemicals from polluting the Sound, follow these actions:
- Avoid Pesticides
- Avoid Chemical Fertilizers
- Have Your Lawn and Garden Soil Tested
- Choose Native Plants
Action 1 - Avoid Pesticides - Why?
The U.S. EPA estimates that 70 million pounds of active pesticide ingredients are applied to urban lawns each year. In 1997, the Washington State Department of Ecology detected 14 different pesticides in Indian Creek and 9 pesticides in Moxlie Creek. Research has revealed that small amounts of pesticides can impair a fish’s ability to swim, grow, avoid predators, and reproduce. Pesticides can also cause skeletal deformities, abnormal sexual development, and death. Learn more about pesticides found in Indian and Moxlie Creeks from the Department of Ecology's printer-friendly report.
Caution: "Weed and Feed" products and other fertilizer products that claim to kill weeds are blended with herbicides, although this is not always apparent from the packaging. Learn about the harmful impacts of "weed and feed" products on Thurston County's website.
Read the Label - Ask Your Lawn Care Service: do not use products containing 2,4-D, carbaryl, diazinon, diuron, Malathion, trichlopyr BEE, or trifluralin. These chemcials are considered harmful to salmon and should not be used in urban areas. By law, stores selling these products should be displaying a salmon warning label, although most retailers are not in compliance with this law and there is no penalty. For specific information on each of these chemicals and products that contain these chemicals visit the Washington Toxics Coalition website.
For your lawn and garden care, use natural methods and products to control weeds and insect pests. Take care of your lawn and garden with the Sound in mind! Learn more about "Common Sense" gardening methods on Thurston County's website.
Action 2 - Avoid Chemical Fertilizers - Why?
Chemical fertilizers are designed to release nutrients quickly, usually within a few days. In addition, consumer research has shown that by following the instructions on the fertilizer bag, people may unknowingly apply up to 6 times more fertilizer than needed. The excessive amounts of fertilizer leads to polluted ground and surface waters. When selecting a fertilizer, choose slow release, natural, or organic fertilizers instead of chemical fertilizers. Learn more about slow release versus chemical fertilizers on Thurston County's website.
Action 3 - Get Lawn and Garden Soils Tested - Why?
Lawns and gardens are often over-fertilized because people don't get their soils tested. A soil test will reveal the nutrient needs of your soil and recommend fertilizer amounts based on the plants growing in the soil. Soil tests are available through the Thurston Conservation District.
Action 4 - Choose Native Plants for Your Yard - Why?
Native plants have evolved in this area and have adapted to growing in our soils and climate. Once these plants are established in the right place, they do not need to be fertilized or watered regularly. Learn more about native plants and how to use them in your yard on the Washington Native Plant Society's website.
Contact Us: Staff Contact: Patricia Pyle (360) 570-5841
Need More Information? Contact the Public Works office.
- Physical Address: 924 7th Ave. SE, Suite A
- Mailing Address: PO Box 1967, Olympia, WA 98507
- Download printer-friendly (PDF) directions to our office
- Hours: Monday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Phone: (360) 753-8588
- Email: Public Works