It’s all in the outputs: Choosing partners for successful NPS pollution reduction in an urban watershed St. Albans, Vermont Karen Bates, Vt. Agency of Natural Resources Jurij Homziak, Lake Champlain Sea Grant, University of Vermont Extension

Successful Community Educational Effort Community group takes lead role Community group takes lead role Resource staff invest time and energy at critical points Resource staff invest time and energy at critical points

Project Description St. Albans Area Watershed Association, high school students and other volunteers provided St. Albans Area Watershed Association, high school students and other volunteers provided –education on lake friendly lawn care practices to homeowners in St. Albans City –specific information on soil nutrient levels to help them implement specific practices –survey to show change in behavior

Project Results Survey indicates change in behavior: decrease in fertilizer use Survey indicates change in behavior: decrease in fertilizer use Community able to collect most comprehensive data set of phosphorus levels in soil from lawns in area Community able to collect most comprehensive data set of phosphorus levels in soil from lawns in area –Legislators –Other researchers

Addressing urban non-point source pollution “Develop long-term environmental stewardship and understanding of the Lake Champlain Basin by enhancing educational opportunities….” Opportunities for Action: An Evolving Plan for the Lake Champlain Basin Opportunities for Action: An Evolving Plan for the Lake Champlain Basin

Education programs led by government and non governmental organizations

Community-led education program Effective in reaching community Reduces time commitment by resource staff

PROCESS Resource Identification Implementation Project Initiation

Initiation of project during basin planning process Involved existing resources and interest in community Created forum for brain storming: identify problem and potential solutions Facilitated development of project and roles with partners

Discussion Group Composting Association of Vermont St. Albans Area Watershed Association Gund Institute for Ecological Economics Master Gardener Program Lake Champlain Sea Grant Program Chittenden County Stormwater Education Program

Project Goal Achieve a wider recognition within the community of personal responsibility and acceptance of lake friendly lawn and garden practices

St. Albans Area Watershed Association Community recognizes water quality problems Recently formed with membership of 400 Energetic high school teacher

St. Albans Bay, Lake Champlain

St. Albans City Population of 7500 over 2 sq. miles

Technical Resources Provide education on lake friendly lawn care and other residential practices –Master Gardener Program, Gund Institute, CAV Offer free soil tests and summarize results –Master Gardener Program, Gund Institute Send out a survey before and after educational efforts and analyze –Lake Champlain Sea Grant Program

Monetary Resources Lake Champlain Basin Program – $4,590 –student and watershed assn coordinator –mailings, and –data input and analyses by graduate student Water Wheel – $2,000 – soil tests and miscellaneous Sea Grant Program - $1000 –Additional analyses by graduate student

Community Resources Volunteer hours –Student work included labeling 750 post cards, folding and addressing 1500 surveys, taking soil samples, developing questionaires, giving presentations Understanding of the community –Revisions to original project

Educational Forums 10 community members attended

Revisions to Forums Public access TV taped and aired twice Different approach in subsequent year: Students go to neighbors  15 students X 3 contacts = 45 people

Educational Articles One newspaper article two watershed association newsletters two watershed association newsletters

Revision to educational articles Each student wrote a letter to the editor of local newspaper –A week and a half of letters on lake friendly lawn and garden practices

More educational opportunities 739 households received a survey on bmps Tom Bushey, resident Tom Bushey, resident The surveys mailed out by the students got him thinking about what he was doing. In response he stopped using fertilizer and moved his lawn clipping pile away from stream.

And more educational opportunities Soil tests – Master Gardener interns provided 90 residents with lake friendly lawn and garden practices fact sheets and free soil test results.

29 students in two sets of stream ecology classes and the effect of their enthusiasm on parents, neighbors, peers And more educational opportunities

The Survey

Accuracy The survey administered in 2004 had a 23.6% response rate (173/739). 90% confidence ± 5.5% error The survey administered in 2005 had a 15.06% response rate (115/739). 90% confidence ± 7.1% error

Property characteristics of residential lots

Lawn care practices 41% use fertilizer 69% apply inorganic fertilizer For nitrogen: over 25% over application

Willingness to change lawn care practices

Measured Change in Behavior

Statistical Method For Testing Differences in Surveys One tailed t-test (Ho = no difference in pre- versus post education proportions, Ha = difference between pre and post education proportions). –Widely used, proven robust and powerful test, although technically not applicable to proportions (minor quibble, reference SISA Simple Interactive Statistical Analysis

Increase in people not fertilizing lawns – highly significant

Increase in soil testing - significant

Decrease in respondents’ reliance on fertilizer company’s recommendations – highly significant

Survey Results Education works: willingness and ability to change practices Concerns –cost –appearance of lawn –ease of application – water quality

Soil Map

Next Step “Don’t Fertilize in Spring” Campaign Educate area suppliers of fertilizers  Phosphorus responsible for water quality problems in bay  Spring application is unnecessary  Results of soil tests in area indicate high P levels

Lessons Learned Community-led education partnered with technical assistance is successful Surveys are effective ways of determining measurable outcome

Critical points for assistance Identify and obtain partners and funding Provide technical expertise, including analysis of collected data

Comments/Feedback Jeff Rouleau, teacher “The project was incredibly worthwhile and provided experiences that kids will never forget.” “The project was incredibly worthwhile and provided experiences that kids will never forget.” “Kids are very idealistic and we should use this in a good way to take action. A kid will take something enormously large and still believe they can do something about it.” “Kids are very idealistic and we should use this in a good way to take action. A kid will take something enormously large and still believe they can do something about it.”