Phosphorus Control in Dane County

by John M. Barten, Oct. 6, 2003

John M. Barten, water quality manager for the Three Rivers Park District (formerly Hennepin County Parks) in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota, spoke in Madison on October 6, 2003.

Barten addressed members of city and county committees and staff that are or will be acting on ordinance proposals to limit the amount of phosphorus in lawn fertilizers. Citizens, members of local watershed groups, and others also attended Barten's presentation and had an opportunity to ask questions.

Barten has conducted extensive research on the quality of runoff water from lawns and golf courses, and was influential in the passage of local ordinances and state law limiting phosphorus in lawn fertilizer in Minnesota. His presentation addressed his research results from Minnesota, as well as his observations about the legislative development and passage experiences there.

Since 1989, Barten has served as water quality manager for the Three Rivers Park District in the suburban Twin Cities area of Minnesota. He works with municipalities and watershed management organizations to mitigate the impacts of development on the quality of the 20 lakes in the park system.

Trained as an aquatic biologist and chemist, Barten's early career years were spent as a limnologist working in Minnesota, where he developed and implemented lake restoration programs, and assisted municipalities and watershed management organizations with water quality management planning.