By Barbara Edelhauser

Many of us have been known to say, "Not in My Backyard," when a new development is planned in our neighborhood. We’re not only concerned about the loss of nature near our homes for aesthetic reasons, but many of us realize that the development of land means the loss of wildlife and wildlife habitat and an increase in the quantity of pollutants that make their way into our streams and lakes.

Pesticide residues, and excess nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilizers and pet waste enter stormwater runoff from lawns and landscaped areas. Fecal coliform from pet waste can also pollute the stormwater that flows into nearby waterbodies. Zinc, lead and hydrocarbons, like oil, can be washed from areas where cars are parked.

We forget that stormwater runoff doesn’t only come from new housing developments. The manicured lawn in our backyard can be helping to pollute the water in the Barnegat Bay Watershed. Even if all building stopped today in the watershed, our stream and lakes and ultimately the Barnegat Bay would still be subject to the impacts of the development that already exists. This includes our own backyards.

Come and learn about the problem of suburban non-point source pollution at the Barnegat Bay Watershed and Estuary Foundation’s annual seminar and what you can do about it. Robert Mancini of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection will give us an understanding of the pollutants that are affecting water quality in our watershed. Dr. Jonathan Kennen of the US Geological Survey will discuss the impacts of suburban development on the aquatic life in our waterbodies. Al Clericuzio of the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Ocean County Master Gardener Program is an expert on low maintenance lawns, which pollute less. Richard Weidman of the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Middlesex County will discuss Integrated Pest Management, an alternative to the overuse of pesticides that many homeowners are guilty of. Dan Segal of Pinelands Nursery will give us pointers on the use of native plants in our yards.