SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - Part of the spring spruce-up of lawns in Sioux Falls is applying fertilizer and weed control but over application sends some of the chemicals into the Big Sioux River increasing the watershed's nitrates.
Dana Loseke with Friends of the Big Sioux River says nitrates aren't a big problem yet but according to research from the University of South Dakota, Natural Resources Conservation Service and East Dakota Water Development District nitrates are on the rise.
Loseke says even small amounts of lawn fertalizer granules left on the sidewalk or streets add up. He says its easy for the individual homeowner to dismiss the few cups of spilled ferilizer but the aggregate is staggering.
He says that small, non-point source of pollution, taken citywide, is tantamount to pouring dump truck loads of fertilizer into the river.
Loseke says the major contaminants to the Big Sioux include E. coli from livestock, feedlots, urban pet waste, leaky septic tanks and wildlife.
Another major source of contaminants is sediment from plowed cropland, stream bank erosion and building sites.
Loseke says the 1972 Clean Water Act cleaned up most point source pollution, such as piping sewage or industrial waste directly into waterways.
He says the focus of FBSR is addressing the non-point sources from farms, parking lots, streets, neighborhoods and businesses. The goal is to reduce urban and rural pollution sources.