Fertilizer
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
[Date]
CONTACT:
[Name, Phone #, Email]
[INSERT CATCHY HEADLINE]
[Insert subtitle if desired]
{Introduction Paragraph}
YOUR TOWN, MA – Start with a couple of enticing sentences that briefly summarize your project, and include the five essential W’s (who, what, where, when, and why)
{Fact Paragraph}
Add a paragraph (or two) that discusses the importance of the issue, using facts rather than opinion. Share the information in descending order of importance. For example:
People often over-fertilize their lawn, thinking that “more is better." However, excess nutrients from fertilizer either leach through the soil into groundwater, or are washed by rain into storm drains that lead to the nearest waterbody. These nutrients can contaminate our drinking water and cause rapid algae growth in rivers and bays. These algal blooms can overtake and choke waterbodies, and not only make swimming and boating unpleasant, but also block out sunlight and deplete the water of oxygen, killing fish and other animals.
{Quote Paragraph}
Include a quote from one of the project leaders or other relevant contact. The quote is the opportunity to tell how you feel about the topic, and introduce the readers to organizations that also care about the issue.
{Background Paragraph}
This project is part of a larger outreach campaign called Think Blue Massachusetts, which is being led in [your community] by the [your organization/team]. The Think Blue Massachusetts campaign (www.ThinkBlueMA.org) educates citizens about stormwater pollution and how we can all help protect our water resources. Polluted stormwater is a major public health threat to [your town]'s waters -- closing swimming beaches, contaminating drinking water supplies, and harming shellfish, birds, and mammals.
{Contact Paragraph}
For more information, please contact [insert contact information].
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Please Note: This letter is intended only as a model for your letter to the editor. Make sure to personalize it to include your experience with stormwater pollution, and highlight issues that are of particular importance to your community.
[NAME]
[ADDRESS]
[PHONE]
[EMAIL]
Dear Editor,
With spring rapidly approaching, many homeowners like me are gearing up to fertilize our landscapes. But as I’ve learned over the years, the old saying is true—too much of a good thing can be bad. Many of us unknowingly waste time and money by putting too much fertilizer on our landscape, often at the wrong time. Not only do our lawn and wallet suffer, so does the environment.
People often over-fertilize their lawn, thinking that “more is better." However, fertilizers that are not immediately absorbed by plants are washed away by rain and carried to storm drains—those grated openings found on all of our streets—and then through the stormwater system. But, unlike the sewer system that takes our sink and toilet water to a treatment plant, stormwater is never cleaned. Instead, it’s discharged as is to our rivers, beaches, and bays. That means that what ends up on our streets, including excess fertilizer, ends up in our waters. The nutrients in fertilizer can cause rapid algae growth in rivers and bays. Algal blooms choke waterbodies and not only make swimming and boating unpleasant, but also block out sunlight and deplete the water of oxygen, killing fish and other animals.
I encourage everyone to take just a few minutes to learn how to reduce pollution in our local waterways by visiting www.ThinkBlueMA.org, a great resource that provides simple tips and facts on ways we can be part of the polluted stormwater solution.
Respectfully,
[NAME]
[ORGANIZATION/AFFILIATION (if applicable)]
