Shared Responsibility in Protecting the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

FAIRFAX, Va. - Today, the Virginia Conservation Network and The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (NYSE: SMG) hosted a public forum in Northern Virginia focused on the critical role that organizations and individuals play in protecting and conserving the region's water resources, including the Chesapeake Bay and its headwaters. The forum, held at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., convened a cross-section of more than 90 community leaders, government officials, academics and environmentalists who share the common goal of improving the quality of the region's waterways and, as a result, protecting their diverse eco-systems. "The forum demonstrated that each one of us can make a meaningful difference in protecting the environmental health of the Chesapeake Bay," said Nathan Lott, executive director of the Virginia Conservation Network. "While some of the solutions to our water quality issues are expensive and long-term, communities and homeowners can positively affect our waterways everyday by how they care for their property." Much of the day's discussion focused on stormwater management issues facing rapidly growing urban and suburban regions of Northern Virginia. Solutions including stream restoration, vegetative swales, grass buffers and best practices in turf care were discussed as ways in which municipalities and homeowners can take action to mitigate stormwater overflow. Another key topic at the forum was the importance of public stewardship and responsible lawn care and landscaping practices in the Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts. Several speakers underscored that healthy and properly maintained lawns and landscaping are highly effective in helping to absorb water and prevent stormwater runoff. "Healthy, sustainable lawns and landscaping are essential to protecting our rivers, estuaries, lakes and streams," said Chris Wible, director of Environmental Stewardship at The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, and a speaker at the forum. "At ScottsMiracle-Gro, we are committed to doing our part to ensure our company and lawn care products advance water quality and conservation. We are also working to educate consumers that proper lawn care practices will help protect our precious water resources." Wible recommended homeowners follow these simple best practices in caring for their lawns:

• Mow grass high. Tall grass grows strong roots, which are better able to absorb water and keep rainfall in your backyard and not moving into storm sewers and waterways.

 

• Mulch grass clippings. Mulching grass clippings recycles nutrients, and returns organic matter to the soil. Rich soil helps absorb and filter rainfall, reducing erosion and water runoff.

 

• Clean up. Sweep grass clippings, fertilizer and leaves off sidewalks, driveways and other hard surfaces to help keep nutrients out of waterways.

 

• Conserve water. Use rainfall as much as possible to water your lawn. Most yards do not need supplemental irrigation. Direct downspouts out into the lawn, rain gardens and rain barrels.

 

• Create buffer. If your lawn borders water, do not mow or fertilize to the water's edge. Create a buffer zone with uncut grass or other vegetation to capture stormwater and prevent soil erosion.

  Several lawn care tips can be viewed on www.scotts.com or by going to the Lawn Care Basics Web site. ScottsMiracle-Gro has been involved with Chesapeake Bay stakeholders on water quality issues for many years. In 2006, the Company signed a memorandum of understanding with the Chesapeake Executive Council that supported a stewardship program to reduce nutrient losses from residential lawns. As part of that program, ScottsMiracle-Gro agreed to reduce the level of phosphorus, a nutrient, in its lawn maintenance fertilizers by 50 percent by the end of 2009. The Company achieved that goal and has since announced that all its lawn maintenance fertilizers will be phosphorus-free by the end of 2012. ScottsMiracle-Gro plans to host similar public forums across the country throughout the next several years in an effort to bring further attention to local and regional water-related issues. Most recently, the Company hosted a Water Quality forum in Erie, Pa. in May. ScottsMiracle-Gro has also made a multi-year commitment to educate consumers about the role they can play in advancing water quality and conservation through best practices in lawn and garden care.

Melvin Wylie