New City, NY — Rockland County officials and leaders from all five town governments are urging New York State to strengthen enforcement of the state’s nutrient runoff law, citing ongoing phosphorus pollution affecting several major local waterbodies.
In a unified appeal, the County of Rockland, the Towns of Clarkstown, Haverstraw, Orangetown, Ramapo, and Stony Point, along with the Stormwater Consortium of Rockland County, asked Governor Kathy Hochul, Attorney General Letitia James, and the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to take more aggressive action to curb phosphorus runoff.
The request comes as five Rockland lakes — Rockland Lake, Lake DeForest, Lake Lucille, Congers Lake, and Swartout Lake — continue to appear on the state’s Final 2020/2022 Section 303(d) List as “impaired for total phosphorus.” High phosphorus levels, often caused by fertilizers, can trigger harmful algal blooms, damage ecosystems, and threaten drinking water sources such as Lake DeForest, which supplies about 25 percent of Rockland’s water.
State Law Limits Local Regulation
New York’s Nutrient Runoff Law was amended in 2010, overriding Rockland County’s earlier fertilizer law and prohibiting local governments from enacting their own phosphorus restrictions. Officials say this makes strong state-level enforcement essential.
In their letter, local leaders recommended several steps to improve compliance statewide, including:
- Expanding public education for retailers and consumers
- Creating a statewide retailer database
- Sending annual notices to retailers outlining requirements and penalties
- Conducting regular DEC enforcement sweeps
- Tracking phosphorus levels annually in impaired lakes
Officials say these actions would help protect sensitive water resources and reduce the environmental impacts of nutrient runoff.
Public Encouraged to Support Water Protection
Rockland County and town leaders are also asking the public to take part in protecting local waterways. Suggestions include choosing phosphorus-free fertilizers (marked with a “0” in the middle of the N-P-K ratio), reporting harmful algal blooms through the NYHABS mapper, and avoiding the dumping of leaves and grass clippings into storm drains.
Residents are also encouraged to establish vegetative buffers near waterways, participate in the DEC’s Trees for Tribs streamside restoration program, and use sustainable landscaping features such as rain gardens, bioswales, permeable pavement, and rain barrels. Avoiding driveway car washing can also help prevent phosphorus-containing soaps from entering storm drains.
More information is available through Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rockland County and the Rockland County Task Force on Water Resources.
Collaboration Strengthens Local Response
Recently, the Rockland County Legislature, County Executive’s Office, and Cornell Cooperative Extension convened a multidisciplinary team of experts in water quality, public health, environmental education, and regulatory enforcement. The group aims to strengthen outreach efforts and coordinate strategies to improve water quality across the county.
Local officials say that stronger enforcement from the state, combined with public participation, will be critical to reducing nutrient pollution and restoring the health of Rockland’s lakes and other waterbodies.