Developing Resource Management Systems for Golf Courses

     in Washington County, Arkansas

Sarah Franklin, Water Quality Technician

Washington County Conservation District, Fayetteville, AR

Introduction

The Washington County Conservation District (WCCD) is funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through the Arkansas Soil and Water Conservation Commission (ASWCC) to conduct resource inventories and develop nutrient management plans for golf courses and driving ranges in the Illinois and White River watersheds. This is a yearlong project that began in July 2004.  The information gathered from the resource inventories will help the district determine whether golf courses are a significant contributor of nonpoint source (NPS) pollution.  The goal of the WCCD is to produce Nutrient Management Plans for every golf course an d driving range in Washington County. Best Management Practices (BMP’s) will focus on the reduction of nutrient movement.  The District will work in cooperation with local, state, and federal agencies to educate golf course owners and operators about the inventory information. 

 

Project Goals and Objectives

♦ Collect resource inventory data for every golf course and driving range in the county.

♦ Educate golf course managers, agency personnel, and the public about the project’s inventory information.

♦ Create Nutrient Management Plans for every golf course and driving range in the  county.

♦ Calculate estimated phosphorus load reductions

 

Resource Inventory Data Collection

A key component of the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) goals is the implementation of Conservation Management Systems, which derive from Resource Management System planning and implementation.  Arkansas has developed quality criteria that are presented in either quantitative or qualitative terms for each natural resource, such as soil or water.  Previously, no resource inventory data existed for golf courses in Arkansas.

The resource inventory will allow the district to identify environmental problems, determine the objectives of golf course operators, and analyze the resource data.

 

Education and Technology Transfer

The District will work with golf course managers and owners to promote the proper use of nutrients and pesticides.

At the conclusion of the project, the district will hold two public meetings. This meeting will include golf course managers, University of Arkansas students and faculty, Cooperative Extension Service, and NRCS. We will discuss the effectiveness of best management practices in controlling the runoff of nutrients and pesticides from golf courses.

 

Development of Nutrient Management Plans

Following on-site visits to conduct the resource inventory, the district water quality technician collects soil samples for all participating golf courses and driving ranges and then uses the results to produce a nutrient management plan that will identify the potentially fertilized vegetation.  This information will be used to provide golf course managers proper fertilizer application rates and dates of optimal application.