The Nitrogen Management ChallengeTristan Gillespie, EPA Region 2

How did EPA get involved in golf courses?

What is the National Estuary Program?What is the National Estuary Program? Why all the fuss about Nitrogen?Why all the fuss about Nitrogen? Why pick on the golf courses?Why pick on the golf courses? What is the Nitrogen Mgm’t Challenge?What is the Nitrogen Mgm’t Challenge? Who cares?Who cares? How can I take the Challenge?How can I take the Challenge?

Estuaries in the ProgramEstuaries in the Program

Brown TideBrown Tide

•

First appeared in 1985First appeared in 1985 Recurring problemRecurring problem Ecosystem impactsEcosystem impacts

– Bay scallops, eelgrass, Bay scallops, eelgrass, and perhaps finfish and perhaps finfish and other shellfishand other shellfish

Not harmful to humansNot harmful to humans Has adversely Has adversely

impacted the impacted the economy and aestheticseconomy and aesthetics

Cause(s) are unknownCause(s) are unknown

Year

Lb

80818283848586878889909192939495969798

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

Bay Scallop Landings

Comparative Nitrogen ImpactsComparative Nitrogen Impacts

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

Agriculture(row

crops)

Vineyards 2 DU/ac 1 DU/ac GolfCourses

Native GW

Average Nitrogen Impacts

for Selected Land Uses

DU: Dwelling Unit Ac: Acre GW: groundwater

What is the Nitrogen Management Challenge?

East End Golf Course Superintendents East End Golf Course Superintendents United States Golf Association (USGA)United States Golf Association (USGA) Cornell UniversityCornell University U.S. Environmental Protection Agency U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Region 2Region 2 New York Department of Environmental New York Department of Environmental

ConservationConservation Suffolk County Health DepartmentSuffolk County Health Department Peconic Estuary Program Citizen’s Advisory Peconic Estuary Program Citizen’s Advisory

CommitteeCommittee

Southampton, New YorkJune 17 - 20 , 2004

Nitrogen Management Challenge for the Golf Course Industry To eliminate existing stresses and reduce future stresses in the Peconic Estuary Region with respect to nitrogen, the Peconic Estuary Program seeks to work with the east end golf courses to better manage nitrogen inputs to ground and surface waters by: S Developing and implementing comprehensive nitrogen management plans on golf courses. S Reducing, to the maximum extent possible, areas to which fertilizers are applied (including both play

areas and ornamental lawn areas). S Eliminating fertilizer applications in 50 foot buffer zones adjacent to surface waters and wetlands. S Reducing nitrogen application rates and the total amount of nitrogen applied to golf courses, to the

extent possible. S Implementing structural* and non-structural** best management practices for fertilizer applications so

the golf course's contribution to groundwater nitrogen levels is no more than 2 mg/L. S Evaluating the potential for nitrogen input reductions from other sources (including: equipment wash-off

areas, composting facilities, on-site wastewater disposal systems, etc.) and implementing feasible practices and alternatives.

Meeting this challenge can be measured by: S Reporting on the status of developing and implementing comprehensive nitrogen management plans. S Reporting on the land area to which fertilizers are applied. S Reporting on the extent to which fertilizer applications within 50 feet of surface waters and wetlands has

been eliminated. S Reporting on fertilizer application rates and the overall amounts and types of fertilizers that are applied S Reporting on best management practices that are implemented. S Groundwater nitrogen measurements. S Participation in efforts to reduce other sources of nitrogen and the implementation of feasible

alternatives. The Peconic Estuary Program will: S Provide each golf course an aerial image of its property to assist in the site assessment process. S Provide existing surface and ground water quality data from locations at or near each golf course. S Provide technical assistance to develop a customized nitrogen management plan S Identify funding opportunities and provide assistance in securing funding for technical assistance,

capital improvements and the implementation of management practices, including pilots and demonstrations.

S Provide technical and financial assistance to address related management challenges, including wash-off pads, grass clipping and compost management, and chemical storage.

S Develop recognition programs. S Provide additional assistance, as is possible. Future Collaboration: The Peconic Estuary Program and its stakeholders welcome the opportunity to work with the Golf Course Industry to address other environmental matters of concern (such as: proper disposal of banned or unneeded pesticides, overall pesticide reduction, habitat protection, etc.) Timing: Comprehensive nitrogen management plans on golf courses should be developed within 2 years (2004-05) and implementation of these plans should follow. Any readily implementable actions should be carried out as soon as is practicable. Upon reaching an agreement, an appropriate public announcement will be made. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Structural practices for fertilizer management include: fertigation systems, drainage water capture and re-use, etc. ** Non-structural practices for fertilizer management include: reducing application rates, using slow release products, and smaller more frequent applications, etc.

G:\USER\SHARE\DEPPDIV\PBPB\EOS\PECONIC\RB\golf courses & nutrients.wpd November 12, 2003 (5:07pm)

Statement of Support

ur participation in the Long Island East End/Peconic Estuary Program Nitrogen Management Challenge balances the demands of golf with our responsibility to the

natural environment. We seek to safeguard the quality of the environment and responsibly care for the land, water, wildlife and natural resources upon which our course is sustained.

We are committed to implementing management practices and projects to achieve the purposes and goals written in the Proposed Challenge to the Golf Course Industry and our Nitrogen Management Plan. Name of Golf Course: Superintendent, Course Manager, or Course Contact Person

Printed Name:

Signed:

Date:

Green Committee Chair, President, Club Manager, or Owner

Printed Name:

Address:

Street Address/PO Box City State Zip Code Phone:

E-mail:

Signed:

Date:

Individual Recognition- I affirm that I am/was principally responsible for completing the Site Assessment and Nitrogen Management Plan. This individual will be recognized for achievement from the Long Island East End/Peconic Estuary Program. __________________________________________________

Please print name __________________________________________________

Please sign Please make copies for your records and mail a copy of your completed Statement of Support, Site Assessment, and Nitrogen Management Plan to:

Dr. Marty Petrovic Department of Horticulture

134A Plant Science Building Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853

O

Site Assessment

All information provided will remain confidential and only composite summary information will be made public.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact Marty

Petrovic at 607-255-1796 or Jim Baird at 610-515-1660. 1. General Information

This section provides general property information and puts the property in its regional and local context. Course Name ___________________________________________________________________________ Address ___________________________________________________________________________ City _______________________________ State _________ Zip Code _________________ Country _______________________________ County/Province _________________________ Contact Name/Relation to Course ______________________________________________________________ Mailing Address ____________________________________________________________________________ (If different) Street Address/PO Box City State Zip Code Telephone E-mail Address FAX Number Web Address Superintendent General Manager Superintendent Mobile Number Management Company (If applicable) Type of Course Private Municipal Other:

Semi-Private Resort

Daily Fee Golf/Residential Community

Golf Play Number of Holes Length of Golf Season

Number of Members Starting Month

Number of Rounds/Year Ending Month

Number of Golf Maintenance Staff

Open for play year round

History What year was the course built? ___________

Former land use: _____________________________ Number of years under former land use: _______

Long Island East End/Peconic Estuary ProgramGolf Course Nitrogen ChallengeAnnual Report for Year __________All information provided will remain confidential and only composite summary information will be made public.Name: _____________________________ Address:

_____________________________ _______________ ____________________________________________

Golf Course: ________________________ Telephone:

1.Area of turf fertilized (acres or 1,000 sq. ft.) for:Greens: __________________ Tees: ________________ Fairways: ________________Primary rough: _____________________ Other: _______________________________1.Amount of fertilizer nitrogen applied (pounds per 1,000 sq. ft.):Greens: __________________ Tees: ________________ Fairways: ________________Primary rough: _________________ Secondary rough: __________________________1.Amount (gallons) of irrigation water applied: 2.Amount (inches) of natural precipitation received: 3.Please list any nitrogen management changes made this year.4.Please attach water test results taken during the year.Please return this form to:Dr. Marty PetrovicDepartment of Horticulture134A Plant Sciences BuildingCornell UniversityIthaca, NY 14853(607) 255-1796

FERTILIZER APPLICATION RECORD FOR YEAR ________Golf Course ________________ Turf Area _______________ Total Acres _______

Date Applied

Product Applied Fertilizer Analysis Fertilizer Type Application Total Pounds of Product Applied

Total Pounds/1,000 Sq. Ft.

N P K

Fertilizer Type: Application: To convert P2O5 to P, multiply by 0.44; to convert K2O to

K, multiply by 0.83.granular broadcastliquid spoon feedingslow release foliar feeding

natural organic fertigationsynthetic

Can I take the Challenge?

Can I take the Challenge?

Yes. Just contact me:Yes. Just contact me:– Gillespie.tristan@epa.govGillespie.tristan@epa.gov– (212) 637-3753(212) 637-3753

More info: More info: http://www.epa.gov/Region2/nitrogen_management/index.htmlhttp://www.epa.gov/Region2/nitrogen_management/index.html