Are pesticides deforming frogs?

Streams and lawn chemicals?

• We have two streams on the back of our property. Our entire neighborhood is built on a huge sloping piece of land. These waterways are at the bottom of the slope. Most of the neighbors use services like Chemlawn and Truegreen to maintain thier picture-perect lawns. We have elected not to use pesticides or chemicals. We do use neem oil for our vegetable garden and flowering shrubs. My questions are: Is there some kind of law about using lawn chemicals and pesticides near a stream? Where do I find out about it, and what do I do if I find out that the entire neighborhood and the lawn services they use are in violation? Also, is the runoff from our use of neem oil doing something to hurt our streams? Occasionally, we do see some little fish in there, and we have seen a couple of frogs and turtles, but I don't think as many as there used to be. We do live in an unincorporated area, so we do not have any city ordinaces to look into. Any help would be most appreciated.

• Answer:

  Your question is an excellent one and well asked. I have been in the horticulture business all of my life, and have always recommended against applying pesticides (herbicides, insecticides, fungicides etc.) within the drainage area of small streams. You are especially correct to be concerned with commercially applied products which can be somewhat stronger than what homeowners can purchase and apply. Reganding regulations and restricitions, these can be town, county, state or nationally administered. If you live in an unincorporated area check with your county or state for regulations. The state Dept. of Environmental Protection will be a good place to start. Regarding Neem, it is a naturally occurring pesticide which controls some insects, mites and even diseases. Its made from the seeds of the Neem tree which is native to places like India and Indonesia. Neem is used for a wide variety of control products including shampoo and toothpaste! I would say that the risk from Neem is minimal. You have made a great start by asking, I encourage you to follow up and stay involved. If a law is not being broken you could at least call the situation to the attention to your lawmakers and environmental officials. Great post ! Bug Doc