A Message from Heather Stapleton, Community Engagement Coordinator for One Lagoon

Starting June 1, fertilizer bans go into effect across the Indian River Lagoon watershed.

Why? Because every summer rainstorm can carry lawn chemicals straight into the lagoon — fueling harmful algal blooms that choke out wildlife and pollute the water we all treasure.

These seasonal rules vary a bit by county and they impact everyone who lives in the Indian River Lagoon watershed — including Volusia, Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin, Palm Beach, and parts of Okeechobee Counties.

Here's what you need to know:

• No lawn fertilizers with nitrogen or phosphorus from June 1 to September 30 (through October 31 in Palm Beach County). Summer-safe blends with micronutrients are okay.

• No phosphorus year-round unless a soil test shows your lawn truly needs it.

• Keep fertilizers at least 10–15 feet away from any waterbody.

• Don't blow grass clippings or leaves into streets, storm drains, ditches, or canals — they end up in the lagoon. Blow them back into your yard instead.

• Go natural: Use compost, mulch, or plant native species.

• Mow high, leave the clippings, and skip the chemicals.

  
  

As a 21-year Vero Beach resident working with the Environmental Learning Center and other community organizations, Stapleton emphasizes that these regulations aren't just about rules — they're about responsibility and helping to restore the healthy balance of the lagoon. For Stapleton and others working to protect the watershed, it's about clean water, healthy wildlife, and the kind of magic only the lagoon can offer. The goal is simple: be the reason the lagoon thrives — not just survives.

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