Welcome to respectDOWNSTREAM – providing a system for precise, eco-friendly lawn and garden care. Our user-friendly platform, developed in collaboration with Virginia Tech & Prescription Soil & Plant Nutrient Management, empowers residential owners to optimize soil health and minimize over-application of fertilizers and amendments.
IMPROVE & PROTECT VIRGINIA’S
DOWNSTREAM WATER QUALITY
Join us in our mission to protect Virginia's waterways and ensure compliance with EPA regulations. Get started with respectDOWNSTREAM today.
Our Challenge
Virginia’s Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is mandated by the EPA WIP III to document a specific percentage of agricultural and urban acreage under nutrient management plans. To comply with the EPA’s 2025 mandate, Virginia must report 363,000 urban acres under an approved nutrient management plan to avoid potential loss of federal funding.
respectDOWNSTREAM aligns with Virginia’s objectives by offering a comprehensive soil testing service. Our platform not only documents the plant species and square footage under cultivation but also generates scientifically supported, multi-seasonal nutrient management plans.
The Goal
To safeguard and enhance the water quality of Virginia’s streams, tributaries, lakes, and estuaries, all of which eventually feed into the Chesapeake Bay.
To guarantee adherence to the EPA’s 2025 mandate, thereby averting the risk of substantial funding loss outlined in WIP III.
The Solution
The respectDOWNSTREAM program equips homeowners with a precise method to determine necessary amendments for optimal lawn and garden growth. Moreover, our proposed solution offers a voluntary verification process, aimed at mitigating fertilizer and soil amendment runoff, thus bolstering the overall health of the Chesapeake Bay.
This program is designed to benefit all Virginia homeowners who utilize our growing system and receive nutrient management instructions, subsequently reporting to the Commonwealth/DCR as necessary.
Let’s All get Engaged and Do Our Part…
Help Improve Virginia’s Waterways and Protect the Chesapeake Bay!
At respectDOWNSTREAM, we work diligently to help our customers reduce the number of nutrient applications and ensure the smallest amount of product is applied for the desired result. Through our tailored season-by-season schedules, we empower homeowners with precise guidance on when to apply each amendment, promoting environmentally responsible best management practices. With the respectDOWNSTREAM Program:
•buy and apply only what you need
•stop over applying fertilizer and soil amendments
•stop wasting money with leftover products
•balance your soil