Success StoryWater Quality Preservation



Water Quality Preservation

Author: Jamie Dockery

Planning Unit: Fayette County CES

Major Program: Water and Soil Quality and Conservation

Plan of Work: Green and Sustainable Living

Outcome: Initial Outcome

Our community, like much of the world, has become increasingly aware of water quality issues. Recent MS4 regulations have shed more light on these concerns. One of the major pollutants of stormwater is excess nutrients from fertilizer applications. The Fayette County horticulture program offers classes related to low input lawn care approaches that can serve to dramatically lessen fertilizer applications. Research has shown that turf grasses perform better when limited spring and summer applications of fertilizer are applied. We also emphasize soil building and infiltration in many classes related to other gardening topics. In the past year 85 homeowners attended a class related to lower input lawn care to learn best management practices. We work with local government to provide data related to storm water education for their MS4 reporting.  We also partnered with the Natural resources Conservation Service who sponsored vouchers for free soil testing. This is important for homeowners but also producers, where over application of expensive nutrients affect water quality as well as profitability. The Fayette County Extension Service provided soil sampling and guidance to 928 citizens to avoid these problems. Efforts such as soil sampling and reducing fertilizer inputs provide many benefits in terms of cost savings and ecology.






Stories by Jamie Dockery


Armed with Knowledge

about 5 years ago by Jamie Dockery

Homeowners have few unbiased resources when looking for solutions to lawn and garden problems. Many ... Read More


Growing community

about 5 years ago by Jamie Dockery

A recent study at our own university identified several Lexington communities as low income areas wh... Read More


Stories by Fayette County CES


Renewed Interest Inspires New Life for a School Garden

Renewed Interest Inspires New Life for a School Garden

about 6 years ago by Amber Morris

I first saw the garden at Russell Cave Elementary after a Chop Chop delivery to their Family Resourc... Read More


Special Interest Workshops

about 5 years ago by Elizabeth Kingsland

Fayette County Family and Consumer Sciences Agents coordinate and teach a series of special interest... Read More