Pollinator FAQs | My Chesapeake Clear Choices Clean Water

I pledge to protect water and pollinators with native plants.
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Select at least one option below.
Pledge 1
- I pledge to create a native plant rain garden.
Pledge 1
- I pledge to use native plants in my landscaping.
Pledge 3
- I pledge to protect pollinators.

I pledge to create a native plant rain garden to protect water and pollinators.
Are you planting in acres or square feet?*
- Acres
- Square Feet
Width of Planting (feet)*
Length of Planting (feet)*
Acres of Planting*
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Total Acreage of Planting
Here's how your choices protected our environment!
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Load Before BMP
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TSS Load After BMP
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P Load Before BMP
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N Load Before BMP
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P Load After BMP
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N Load After BMP
Sediment Reduced

Pounds per Year
Phosphorus Reduced

Pounds per Year
Nitrogen Prevented

Pounds per Year
Algae Prevented

Pounds per Year
- View Assumptions (optional)
This calculation comes from the EPA Region 3 load reduction model which is designed to calculate reduction of nonpoint source pollutants. This calculation assumes that you have a sandy loam type soil. Nutrient reductions (phosphorus and nitrogen) are assumed to come from the reduction of sediment transported nutrients. Attached phosphorus and nitrogen are calculated from USDA-ARS (US Department of Agriculture – Agriculture Research Service) research and uses an overall phosphorus concentration of 0.0005 pounds of phosphorus per pound of soil. The nitrogen concentration is 0.001 pounds of nitrogen. The rain garden calculation uses removal efficiency numbers for bioretention, while the native planting area uses vegetative buffer/filter strip numbers.

This calculation is also used to provide information about the amount of algae that can be prevented from occurring in our lakes and streams. The “500 lbs Algae Adage” states that 500 pounds of wet algae can be produced with just one pound of phosphorus.

References

I pledge to landscape with native plants to protect water and pollinators.
Are you planting in acres or square feet?*
- Acres
- Square Feet
Acres of Planting*
Width of Planting (feet)*
Length of Planting (feet)*
Hidden
Total Acreage of Planting
Here's how your choices protected our environment!
Hidden
Load Before BMP
Hidden
TSS Load After BMP
Sediment Reduced

Pounds per Year
Hidden
P Load Before BMP
Hidden
P Load After BMP
Phosphorus Reduced

Pounds per Year
Hidden
N Load Before BMP
Hidden
N Load After BMP
Nitrogen Prevented

Pounds per Year
Algae Prevented

Pounds per Year
- View Assumptions (optional)
This calculation comes from the EPA Region 3 load reduction model which is designed to calculate reduction of nonpoint source pollutants. This calculation assumes that you have a sandy loam type soil. Nutrient reductions (phosphorus and nitrogen) are assumed to come from the reduction of sediment transported nutrients. Attached phosphorus and nitrogen are calculated from USDA-ARS (US Department of Agriculture – Agriculture Research Service) research and uses an overall phosphorus concentration of 0.0005 pounds of phosphorus per pound of soil. The nitrogen concentration is 0.001 pounds of nitrogen. The rain garden calculation uses removal efficiency numbers for bioretention, while the native planting area uses vegetative buffer/filter strip numbers.

This calculation is also used to provide information about the amount of algae that can be prevented from occurring in our lakes and streams. The “500 lbs Algae Adage” states that 500 pounds of wet algae can be produced with just one pound of phosphorus.

References

I pledge to protect pollinators with these other actions.
- I pledge to no longer use pesticides in my residential yard.
- I pledge to take special care with pesticides in my residential yard.
Do
- Mow flowering weeds before applying pesticides
- Ensure my lawn care service follows pesticide application instructions and uses best practices
Do Not
- Use neonicotinoid (neonics) pesticides
- Apply pesticides when pollinators are foraging (mid-morning through late afternoon)
- Apply pesticides when weather conditions create a drift hazard (>7 mph)
- I pledge to no longer use pesticides in my production agriculture fields.
- I pledge to take special care with pesticides in my production agriculture fields.
Do
- Register and Review BeeCheck™ before using pesticides
- Follow pesticide application instructions
- Create untreated vegetated strips around sensitive pollinator sites
- Contact nature preserve managers of properties within two miles of my property before using pesticides
- Use Integrated Pest Management strategies on my property in order to avoid pesticide use
Do Not
- Use neonicotinoid (neonics) pesticides
- Apply pesticides when pollinators are foraging (mid-morning through late afternoon)
- Apply pesticides when crops are blooming
- Apply pesticides when weather conditions create a drift hazard (>7 mph)
- I pledge to enhance pollinator habitat in my yard.
- Avoid mowing when pollinators are active (warmest parts of the afternoon)
- Provide fresh water in a safe location
- Leave some dead branches and limbs down to provide habitat for ground-dwelling pollinators
- Ensure that the planted landscape includes multi-season nectar-rich plants and a diverse array of native trees and shrubs to support pollinator foraging
- I pledge to be a better beekeeper.
- Register my hives on BeeCheck™
- Contact neighbors and local pesticide applicators to make them aware of my bees and their typical activity
- Keep hives visible to pesticide applicators and/or use signage so that they are aware of the bees’ presence
- Report pesticide-related bee kills to the Office of Indiana State Chemist, (800) 893-6637

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What does it all mean?

Stormwater runoff carries loads of pollutants into our waterways - as much as 70% of the total pollution in surface waters according to the EPA.

Native plants help keep that water where it falls, letting it soak into the ground. This is true whether they are in a rain garden, along a shoreline, or used in regular landscaping. Even a 10’ x 10’ area can prevent more than 2.5 pounds of sediment and algae from impacting the streams, rivers, lakes, and reservoirs we use every day.

At the same time, native plants help provide food and habitat for pollinators.

Great job making personal choices that benefit water!
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Native Plants & Pollinators

Native Plants & Pollinators

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I pledge to create a native plant rain garden to protect water and pollinators.

I pledge to landscape with native plants to protect water and pollinators.

I pledge to protect pollinators with these other actions.

What does it all mean?

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Native Plants & Pollinators

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