Keeping It Green
4/2/2009
Minimizing the Environmental Footprint of Your Golf Course - While Staying Economically Viable
By Matthew Ayers and Frank Getchell
Ramsey, New Jersey
Developing a new golf course has become more challenging than ever. As the general public demands more environmentally conscious practices, local, state, and federal agencies have put in place tighter regulatory procedures, requiring more detailed assurances that the development will not adversely impact water levels and quality, or the ecosystem as a whole.
Typically, golf courses encompass an area of at least 100 acres. That is a substantial amount of land, and oftentimes it is golfers who make the initial decisions about how the terrain will be developed. The developers are left with the responsibility for environmental due diligence to ensure that appropriate water resources will be available, and the facility can be maintained in an economically feasible manner.
Water consumption for golf course irrigation is significant, even after the turf growing period is complete. Peak irrigation demands tend to coincide with the peak period for community water supply use, and also tends to occur during the season when aquifer recharge and surface-water flow are at a minimum. As a result, irrigation, water supply, and water resource management are key concerns when it comes to choosing the site for a new course.
There is always the option of importing water from a remote supplier. However, that should be the last recourse, since this water tends to be of higher quality (and cost) than necessary for irrigation purposes. Also, relying on an outside supplier will increase the risk of service disruption and may ultimately place restrictions on how much water can be used.
In almost every case it is preferable to identify and develop local water sources. Before siting a new well, however, it is important to analyze the impact it will have on local water resources. In certain instances, water may be pumped from wells into a surface-water body from which it is distributed through the irrigation system. At other sites, it may be feasible to pump water directly from the wells to the irrigation system. This tends to be the better option, since groundwater is consistently at an optimum temperature for turf irrigation-typically 52-56°F. Plus, there is none of the evaporation loss that would occur when using a pond.
Many developers, especially in areas where overdevelopment of water-resources is a chronic problem, such as Florida, have begun to use treated effluent or “graywater” from wastewater treatment plants for irrigation. Unfortunately, the use of such graywater is not necessarily the "free" resource it may appear to be. In order to make practical and economic sense, the site must be near and connected to a wastewater treatment plant. In many cases, rapid infiltration basins (RIBs) may have been put in place as the preferred way to locally to manage wastewater capacity; plus the potential impacts of diverting discharging graywater from a local river or aquifer where it is used to augment downstream water quantity and quality have to be assessed and found acceptable in order to obtain a permit.
The development of drought and disease-resistant turf grasses, improved types of turf management chemicals and efficient application methods can all contribute towards minimizing a golf course’s impact on water resources. But given the large amount of water needed, golf course managers will always need to rely on adequate water resource development.
Water Quality: Issues And Approaches
Despite the spill-over of environmental consciousness into the field of golf, golfers continue to expect high-quality turf and fast greens. At many sites, this will limit the ability of turf managers to maintain a competitive product without using plant protectants and fertilizers. It is important to note that many common turfgrass pest, weed and disease problems -- such as snow mold or goosegrass -- still lack a dependable organic solution.
As studies have shown, even golf courses using so-called Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies are still far from organic, under the USDA’s National Organic Program Standards. Tracking the impact of fertilizer, pesticides, and herbicides on the local ground and surface-water resources thus remains a major concern when developing a new golf course. In fact, it is often the main issue of concern expressed by nearby residents and water purveyors.
A Case in Point
In 2001, the Town of Stony Point, New York was considering the construction of an 18-hole golf course (Patriot Hills Golf Course). The course was anticipated to occupy approximately 190-acres situated on a 295-acre former college facility previously owned by the State of New York. The site consisted of several dormitory buildings surrounded by rolling hills with numerous streams and a pond.
The final design of the golf course was approved over the course of several public hearings with environmental and hydrogeologic testimony provided by Leggette, Brashears & Graham, Inc. (LBG). During these hearings, local surrounding homeowners expressed concern over the potential impact from the use of fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides on the local water resources including their individual potable supply wells. In response, the Town of Stony Point hired LBG to study the potential impacts to the local water resources in connection with the future use and maintenance of the golf course.
To assess the potential for off-site impacts on the local water resources, primarily the surrounding residential potable wells and local streams, site-specific hydrogeologic data was collected and analyzed, in conjunction with available information on the chemical characteristics of the compounds anticipated for use for turf management practices. As a result, a shallow groundwater monitoring network was designed and installed across the golf course site. As part of the process, several analytical models were employed to project the impacts on the local water quality upon the possible application of the respective fertilizers, fungicides, herbicides and insecticides identified by the golf course.
The models incorporated factors such as the initial material concentration and application duration, chemical stability, rate of groundwater recharge and movement, and the subsurface chemical environment. The results were used to project the possible impacts from elevated nitrate concentrations, and representative fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides on the local groundwater.
Based on the modeling results, the Town of Stony Point modified its proposed turf management plan and contracted LBG for approximately three years to provide water quality analyses throughout the construction and subsequent use of the Patriot Hills Golf Course. As a result of the study and subsequent groundwater monitoring, the town was able to demonstrate to the local community that the operations of the golf course would not adversely impact their groundwater. Construction was completed in 2005, and the course has been operating successfully for almost two years.
Conclusion
Clearly, environmental concerns have made the process of golf course development more time consuming and expensive. Obtaining the necessary approvals at the local state, and federal levels requires, at a minimum, application site-specific evaluation and supporting documentation that addresses all of the factors mentioned above.
This complex permitting and approval process can be more effective, and less painful, if groundwater professionals and environmental consultants are brought on board early on. Having qualified experts participate in meetings with agencies -- even prior to the actual application process -- to address environmental concerns and incorporate proposed solutions into the planning process will help minimize questions and delays down the road.
Being proactive when it comes to addressing the concerns of regulators and the general public can also prevent issues that may affect the long-term use of a facility. Keep in mind: addressing all the predictable environmental obstacles up front is easier and certainly less costly than having to go back to fix things after the fact!
