The reasons for improving landscaping techniques are twofold

1. Environmental
2. Regulatory

ENVIRONMENTAL
People often wonder what are the cumulative effects on the environment from all the fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides that are put onto lawns every year. Water quality is the environmental aspect most directly affected. This occurs due to surface water run-off from lawns. During a heavy rain, any excess products put on a lawn will be washed into nearby storm drains or directly into streams and rivers. Either way, once in the water these products will continue to do what they were designed to do - change the environment. They will alter the ecosystem of the water stream, removing food sources and reducing oxygen levels, ultimately harming aquatic life. According to Science News (July 13, 2002 and November 2, 2002), pesticides and herbicides promote deformities in frogs and emasculate male frogs.

Chemicals from lawns aren’t the only problem. The biggest source of water pollution is sediment. Sediment includes clay, silt, and other components of soil. It is put into the water the same way chemicals are - by surface water run-off. Excessive sediment clouds the water of lakes and streams, suffocating aquatic life.

Another source of water pollution is yard trimmings. Yard trimmings decomposing in a water system can use up all the available oxygen, again killing aquatic life.

REGULATORY
Federal Policy
The Code of Federal Regulations sets forth federal policy and guidelines for landscaping projects and other highway planting programs within the right of way of all federally funded highways and on adjoining scenic lands. Federal implementation directives include a 1995 Executive Memorandum, which provides guidelines for establishing "environmentally and economically sensitive" landscape activities and practices on federal lands and on federally assisted projects.

Other programs include an evolving "ecosystem management" approach to highway system development.

Principles and actions that support the ecosystem management approach are incorporated into many agency regulations, policies, and practices through compliance with NEPA, the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, and other environmental programs. A 1993 Interagency Ecosystem Management Task force consolidated case studies, identified barriers and other areas such as budget, institutions, public participation, science and information, and legal authority where federal agencies "could and should" affect implementation of the ecosystem approach to transportation development. Now, the "ecosystem approach" to transportation development is gaining acceptance as a primary planning and management methodology.

A Presidential Executive Memorandum
An additional important policy directive includes a presidential executive memorandum of November 2, 1995. This directive provides guidelines for establishing "environmentally and economically beneficial" landscaping activities and practices on Federal lands and on federally assisted projects with the purpose of improving current landscape practices. Among other provisions, the memorandum instructs agencies to:
"Use regionally native plants; design, use, or promote construction practices that minimize adverse effects on the natural habitat; seek to prevent pollution by reducing fertilizer and pesticide use by using integrated pest mgt. techniques, recycling green waste, and minimizing runoff (refer also to Exec. Order 12856); implement water-efficient practices by use of mulches, efficient irrigation, do water audits, recycle or reclaim used water, select and site plants in water efficient and erosion free manner. Plant regionally native shade trees to reduce air conditioning demand; create outdoor demonstrations incorporating native plants, and other methods. Carries directive to establish interagency working group to develop recommendations for guidance, including compliance with NEPA, implement required training, and make public the results."

The Ecosystem Approach
The ecosystem approach, as a formally defined objective of the Federal government, is a fairly recent concept. Efforts are held to be consistent with the principles of sustainable environments and economies. A diversity of agencies is demonstrating that this approach is possible and beneficial to the safe, efficient, and environmentally sensitive transportation of people and goods.

The ecosystem approach recognizes the interrelationship between the natural environment and health, and sustainable economies. It emphasizes the integration of planning for the protection and preservation of both. The ecosystem approach is characterized as a method for sustaining or restoring natural systems and their functions and values. It is applied within ecological boundaries, and integrates ecological, economic, and social factors. The frame of reference and management objectives are not site specific, but much broader. Site-specific actions are conducted within a broader ecosystem context, and evaluated over a longer time span.

The Interagency Ecosystem Management Task Force of 1993, consolidated case studies, identified barriers to implementing the ecosystem approach, and identified areas such as budget, institutions, public participation, science and information, and legal authority where the federal agencies should and could affect implementation of the ecosystem approach. Volume I – Identifies areas where agencies can adopt common principles for ecosystem management. Volume II & III presents implementation issues and case studies.

ISTEA (TEA-21) - encourages integration of management of natural and constructed environments by Metropolitan Planning Organizations, and local and State transportation agencies. Requires public involvement, and consideration of likely effects of transportation policy decisions on land use and development.

ISTEA (TEA-21) – Provides clear and specific authority for advance inventory of wetlands resources, participation in local and regional planning efforts for management of wetlands ecosystems, and development of mitigation banks for mitigation of unavoidable wetlands impacts.

There are principles and actions that support the ecosystem management approach to transportation planning and development incorporated into FHWA regulations, policies, and practices through compliance with NEPA, the Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, and other environmental programs.

Region 6 Specific:
Local Government Environmental Assistance Network: Pollution Prevention and Water Resources Management (http://www.lgean.org/html/p2-10.cfm)
ABSTRACT: Tools, resources, and regulations for local governments. Browse through a listing of federal regulations (http://www.lgean.org/html/fedregs.cfm) or search state regulations by state (http://www.lgean.org/html/stateregs.cfm).
New Mexico (http://www.lgean.org/html/stateinfo.cfm)
Texas (http://www.lgean.org/html/stateinfo.cfm)
Louisiana (http://www.lgean.org/html/stateinfo.cfm)
Arkansas (http://www.lgean.org/html/stateinfo.cfm)
Oklahoma (http://www.lgean.org/html/stateinfo.cfm)
SOURCE: Non-profit
RESOURCE TYPE: Website

LSU Ag Center: Home & Landscape Resource Center (http://www.louisianahouse.org/resourcecenter/default.asp)
ABSTRACT: A project of the LSA Ag Center – the Louisiana House. Includes specifics regarding landscaping and lawn care in Louisiana.
SOURCE: State
RESOURCE TYPE: Website

University of Arkansas: Urban Home*A*Syst (http://www.uaex.edu/washington/Urban_HomeASyst/Contents.asp)
ABSTRACT: Home*A*Syst is a confidential, self-assessment program you can use to evaluate your home and property for pollution and health risk. In every home – large or small, new or old, city or country – there are potential pollution sources that can affect the health of your family, community or the environment.
SOURCE: State
RESOURCE TYPE: Website

Sources:
Center for Watershed Protection (CWP). 1999. Diazinon sources in runoff from the San Francisco Bay region. Technical Note 106. Watershed Protection Techniques. 3(1): 613-616.

Center for Watershed Protection (CWP). 1999. On Watershed Behavior. [www.cwp.org].
Bannerman, R. 1994. Diazinon concentrations and toxicity in stormwater ponds.
Unpublished Data. Bureau of Water Management. Wisconsin DNR. Madison, WI.

Department of Energy (U.S.) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumerinfo/energy_savers/landscaping.html

EPA Sourcebook on Natural Landscaping for Public Officials. http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/greenacres/toolkit/index.html

Lehner, P., G. Aponte Clarke, D. Cameron, and A. Frank. 1999. Stormwater Strategies: Community Responses to Runoff Pollution. Natural Resources Defense Council, New York, NY.

NYDEP. 1997. Seven Steps to a Water-Saving Garden. http://www.ci.nyc.ny.us/html/dep/html/xeris.html. Accessed October 1, 2000.

Schueler, T. 1995. "Urban Pesticides: From the Lawn to the Stream." Center for Watershed Protection. Ellicott City, MD. Watershed Protection Techniques. 2(1): 247-253.

Stolberg, S.G. "DDT Target of Global Ban, Finds Defenders in Experts on Malaria." New York Times, August 29, 1999.

Swann, C. 1999. A Survey of Residential Nutrient Behaviors in the Chesapeake Bay. Widener-Burrows, Inc. Chesapeake Research Consortium. Center for Watershed Protection. Ellicott City, MD. 112 pp.

University of Minnesota: Sustainable Urban Landscape Information Series. http://www.sustland.umn.edu/