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:– [email protected]@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
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