The Partnership for Phosphate Reduction is a coalition of citizen-based organizations who have come together to take positive action for change in fighting the problem of overabundant Cladophora algae in Door County's waters. We will accomplish this goal with a program of public awareness, by a partnership with local retail businesses and by water-quality monitoring throughout the Door Peninsula.

The Problem

It's green, it's slimy, it's ugly. When it starts to rot, it's smelly. Its name, CLADOPHORA, even sounds sinister, like a disease.

This is the "green stuff" plaguing Door County's beaches. Why is there so much of it? Is there any way to get rid of it? Is there anything you can do about it?

Cladophora is a native plant, an aquatic alga that occurs naturally in Wisconsin waters. It has lived here for hundreds of years in relative harmony with other native species. It wasn't until the impact of man and man's industries that Cladophora became the problem it is today.

Two major environmental impacts have led to our preponderance of Cladophora. Both are man-made. The first was an unintentional introduction of a non-native species, the zebra mussel. The second is the marked increase of the chemical Phosphorus, in the form of phosphate, in our waters.

The zebra mussel, accidentally introduced here from discharged bilge waters of European ships, procreated enthusiastically. It eats by filtering water and has made our waters much, much clearer. Sunlight can now penetrate far deeper into the water, expanding the habitat where Cladophora can get enough light to grow. It spread massively and we got a lot more "green stuff" in our waters.

Man's other impact, phosphate, comes from a number of sources, such as agricultural fertilizer run-off and treated municipal wastewater.

Phosphate is an essential nutrient for algae. Every time we release more phosphate into our waters, we feed the Cladophora. And, it's a big impact. Currently, phosphate levels in the bay of Green Bay are at least 15 times higher than what are considered to be representative of "healthy" water. It is our goal to starve the Cladophora of phosphates and return its numbers to a more "natural" state in our waters.

The Solution

The solution is you. All of us, really. It's easy.

Two major contributors to phosphate in our waters are automatic dishwashing detergents and lawn fertilizers. To help solve this problem, all you have to do is start using automatic dishwashing detergents and lawn fertilizers that contain no phosphate.

The concept's simple. Starve the Cladophora of phosphate, and our smelly "green stuff" should diminish or disappear.

The Partnership for Phosphate Reduction, has already made finding phosphate-free products easier for you. Volunteers have worked months to line up local retailers who have agreed to carry phosphate-free dishwasher detergents and lawn fertilizers. A list of these retailers is included with this brochure, as is a list of phosphate-free dishwasher detergents and lawn fertilizers.

Look for dishwasher detergents that are labeled "Phosphate Free." When buying lawn fertilizers look for the middle number on the box or bag to be "0." That's the phosphate content. The entire number should look something like: 10-0-10

When you're shopping, look for our Lake-Friendly Phosphate Free display cards with this symbol at your local retailers. That's where you'll find phosphate-free products located.

In order to validate the results of our phosphate reduction effort, The Partnership is currently measuring phosphate levels in waters throughout Door County

What Else Is The Partnership Doing?

We are also tracking sales of phosphate-free products throughout the county, to see if people are buying more of them.

In addition, we are working to raise public awareness about the Cladophora problem by urging individuals to use only phosphate-free automatic dishwashing detergents and fertilizers at home and on the farm.

What Else Can I Do?

Join us. There are a number of volunteer opportunities in the Partnership. We especially need reliable water monitors. So if you live on or near the water, please consider helping out.

You could also work with our retailers, keeping track of how well phosphate-free items are selling.

Or, join our public awareness team in bringing knowledge about Cladophora to the community.

At the very least, let your friends and neighbors know about this effort. Urge them to start using phosphate-free automatic dishwasher detergents and lawn fertilizers. Give them our contact information. Helping spread the word is vital to the success of our Partnership for Phosphate Reduction.