Special Problems 



actually higher beneath fairways (15 ppm, compared to 9.3 ppm beneath greens) (Cornell 

 Water Resources Inst., 1985). Technical personnel interviewed during the course of the 

 present study considered underground irrigation mechanisms to be a significant potential 

 concern on golf courses, as these devices could accelerate transport of nitrate-laden soil 

 percolate. 



In Narragansett Bay, leaching of nitrate-N is of considerable concern along the northern 

 and western shores where sandy, unconfined aquifers drain into the Bay. Nitrogen limited 

 coastal estuaries, bays, and coves may be degraded by concentrations of nitrate-N far 

 below the U.S. drinking water standard of 10 mg per liter. 



In Rhode Island as a whole, DEM Division of Agriculture personnel interviewed have 

 expressed concern that homeowners routinely apply excessive amounts of fertilizer and 

 pesticide, although federal labelling requirements stipulate that containers clearly describe 

 proper application practice. On the basis of consumer questions and disposal of containers 

 at DEM hazardous waste collection days, DEM is concerned that supplies of banned 

 chemicals such as chlordane and DDT are still being applied by homeowners. 



Research conducted by Gold and Sullivan at the University of Rhode Island was 

 designed to evaluate the waterbome losses of nitrogen and the herbicides 2,4-D and 

 Dicamba firom home lawns. The two pesticides were selected because they arc among the 

 most common agrichemicals used on home lawns, have been found to leach in sandy soils, 

 have been detected in Great Lakes basin surface waters, and could affect marine vegetation. 

 Simulating typical application rates and formulations use by commercial lawn care 

 operations, and using two irrigation schedules that simulated adequate and overwatercd 

 treatments, the investigators measured input to receiving waters. Results showed that 

 substantial increases in nitrogen loadings to groundwater resulted fix)m overwatering of 

 fertilized lawns. Overwatering caused a 16 fold increase in the annual loss of inorganic-N 

 in soil water percolate, demonstrating the key importance of water management in offsite 

 losses of N. Pesticides did not appreciably migrate to groundwater in die study (Gold and 

 Sullivan, 1987). 



Recommendations to the General Assembly 



**Aniend pesticide control regulations to require a consumer notiflcation 

 provision stipulating that commercial lawn care operations must place clear warning signs 

 on ail properties where pesticides are applied. Landowners would be required to leave the 

 notification signs in place for three days following each application. (This practice is 

 required by the Massachusetts Pesticide Conffol Act, MGL Chapter 132b.) 



Recommendations to RIDEM and CRMC 



***Work with towns to identify sensitive areas where further nutrient 

 and/or pesticide loading to waterbodies and groundwater should be 

 controlled. 



Recommendations to Town Councils 



***Consider developing zoning or subdivision regulations which allow the 

 Planning Board to request an Environmental and Economic Impact 

 Statement (EIS) for subdivisions of 3 units or more. The EIS requirement 



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