HomeMy WebLinkAboutCDP 97-25; Carlsbad Municipal Golf Course; Coastal Development Permit (CDP) (6)Attachment A
North County Open Space Coalition
A coalition of environmental organizations dedicated to strong regional habitat
planning in Coastal North County
August 7,2003
California Coastal Commission
San Diego Area
7575 Metropolitan Drive, Suite 103
San Diego, CA 92 108-442 1
Dear Members of the Commission and staff
Please accept into the record the following summary of components and criteria
that our preliminary research on “state of the art” environmental golf courses has
revealed. We recognize that these components and criteria must be adapted on a
case by case basis, therefore, this summary is meant to serve as an example only
and is by no means an exhaustive list. However, we offer it as an indication of the
direction we hope to pursue with the Carlsbad Municipal Golf Course.
Summary of BMP’s for Organic Golf Courses
Design & Construction
Develop Organic Maintenance Protocol for the course. The protocol will direct the
use of soil amendments and other organic products to be used in the event that soil
testing does not meet adopted standards, and will determine allowable and prohibited
products for use in pest and disease control.
Consider hiring an Environmental Consultant with expertise in soil ecology and
microbiology to oversee the implementation of the protocol, develop soil sampling
methodology, inspect compost and other organic materials to be used on the golf
courses, and to serve on and advise the technical advisory panel.
Plan construction activities to minimize the duration of exposed soil. Limit the area
of soil disturbance at any one time.
Construct sediment traps and basins before other land-disturbing activities take place.
Establish soil stabilization with plant materials as soon as possible after soil
disturbance.
Through controlled irrigation, manage runoff and keep velocities low.
Break long slopes with diversions.
Divert storm water runoff from disturbed areas to sedimentation containment systems
using dikes, diversions, and waterways.
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Inspect and maintain the erosion and sedimentation control systems frequently.
Provide walkways for non-players to educate them about wildlife protection and
nature conservation and for coastal access.
Use solar or battery powered golf carts and equipment.
Fertilizer Management
Base fertilizer applications on a soil test. This will show the types and levels of
nutrients in the soil.
o Wait a minimum of 3 to 4 weeks after the last fertilization before sampling.
o Be careful to submit a sample for analysis that is truly representative of the
area.
o Make sure the equipment used to take the sample is clean and free of
contaminants. Clean equipment between samples.
o Sample to a uniform depth - preferable to 4 inches for roughs and fairways
and at 2 inches at greens and tees.
o Take 15 to 20 soil cores from each area being tested, using a one inch
diameter soil probe and thoroughly mix them in a plastic container or paper
bag. Do not use a metal bucket which may affect results.
o A plant tissue analysis is a diagnostic tool that can be used by a turf manager
to identify potential nutrient problems. The analysis measures the
concentrations of different nutrients in the tissue and indicated adequacy or
deficiency.
Supplement the soil test with a plant tissue analysis.
Healthy soil, with a diverse ecosystem of microorganisms is the key to non-chemical
methods of turf maintenance. Beneficial microbes feed on the microbes that cause
disease, out-compete the disease-causing microbes, depriving them of food and
water, coat the roots and blades of plants blocking pathogens and make nutrients
more readily available.
Compost and compost tea are vital for promoting diverse soil ecology. Compost
provides both a wide variety of microorganisms and a source of organic matter to
feed them. Compost can be incorporated into the soil when building a new golf
course, when reconstructing features on an existing course, or when applied as a
topdressing material.
A comprehensive organic program will require other inputs that may be unfamiliar to
some superintendents. Microbial inoculants, kelp extract, rock dust minerals,
beneficial nematodes, earthworm castings, plant growth hormones and vitamins are
all being incorporated into golf course maintenance programs.
Core or aerify compacted soil.
If it is determined by a technical advisory panel that chemical treatment is necessary:
o Time applications carefully. Quickly-available sources should not be applied
before a heavy rainfall or irrigation. Nitrogen has the highest chance of
leaching under cool and wet weather.
o Minimize fertilizer rates on slopes. The application of high rates of nitrogen
and phosphorus fertilizer on slopes near surface water increases the risk for
negatively impacting water quality. Use no more than 0.25 to 0.50 pounds of
nitrogen per 1,000 square foot application.
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o Use a slowly-available carrier on sandy soils. Sandy soils put groundwater at
greater risk of contamination. Slowly-available nitrogen fertilizers are less
likely to be leached below the root zone than quickly-available sources on
highly leachable soil.
0 After any chemical treatment, organic materials will be applied to speed the
breakdown of any chemical residues, and to restore the soil’s biological activity.
Pesticides
Select turfgrasses that are insect and disease resistant.
Regular soil testing must be done to ensure appropriate levels of soil biological
activity.
In the event of a disease or pest outbreak soil samples must be taken in the affected
area to determine any underlying soil deficiencies that may have contributed to the
outbreak.
All reasonable organic treatment methods must be attempted to deal with an
outbreak.
Use mechanical intervention such as spiking, dehatching, aerification, sharp cutting
units (mowers) hand removal of weeds, etc. prior to pesticide intervention.
If it is determined by a technical advisory panel that chemical treatment is necessary: 0
o Choose those products that will be the least likely to either leach or drift.
o Choose the pesticides that are least persistent and least toxic to non-target
species.
o Determine the size of the area of application and mix only the quantity of
pesticide needed in order to save money, avoid disposal, and protect the
plants.
o Spot treat whenever possible.
o Apply the pesticide correctly at the right time.
o Mix the pesticide and load the spreader or sprayer carefully to avoid spills.
o Mix pesticides in areas where spill may be safely contained.
Water Quality Monitoring
0 A monitoring program should be developed to include monitoring of both surface and
ground water quality.
Wetlands
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Maintain borders of low maintenance turf or natural vegetation within 50 feet of
wetland boundaries.
Minimize the flow of irrigation water into the wetlands. This will also reduce the
possibility of nutrient and pesticide movement into those areas.
Stabilize and maintain stream banks and ditches to limit erosion.
Install and maintain wash-down and mixing pads where waters from these operations
are contained, and reused or filtered.
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Turfgrass Selection
Use weed-free planting.
Select turf species that are appropriate for the varying conditions and hnctions that
exist on the proposed course.
Base the section on existing environmental conditions (soil pH, soil type, level of
moisture, degree of sunlight, topography), the purpose for which the grass will be
used, and expected management intensity.
Use soil amendments to reduce water consumption.
Use reclaimed water whenever possible. Recycle excess water.
Water to a depth just below the root system. If you observe runoff, shut the system
off and wait for the existing water to enter the soil.
Do not irrigate again until you see visual signs or wilt or foot-printing. A soil probe
can aid in the visual estimate of moisture content.
Sloped areas, compacted soils, and sandy soils will need to be irrigated in short,
frequent intervals.
Water in the early morning for best results. If you must water in the evening, allow
sufficient time for the leaves to dry before nightfall to lessen the chance of disease.
Avoid mid-afternoon watering to reduce the loss from evaporation.
Do not plan to water a surface before it is used by heavy traffic. Heavy traffic on a
wet soil leads to compaction, which may lead to runoff.
Periodically test the irrigation system to make sure it is producing an acceptable level
of uniformity.
There should be regular testing of groundwater down the gradient of the golf course.
The following is a list of “organic golf courses”:
Blackburn Meadows in British Columbia Delia von Schilling 250-702-0235
www.bmgcssi.com
Teton County’s Golf Course Regs. Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance
m.i halliance .com
Suffolk County, Long Island www.lonnislandnm.org/g;olf/suffolk
Bradley Interests Properties, Austin www. ci. austin. tx .us/news/bsaexo 1
De Laveaga, Santa Cruz Don Paul, Superintendent
Shell Harbour, Australia www.shellharbour.nsw. gov
Lahontan Golf Club, Truckee, CA www.pearlvalle yornanix.com
Presidio Golf Course, San Francisco www.growingsolutions.com
Enviro. Guidelines for golf courses, Baltimore www.resources.co.ba.md.us
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Three other “organic” courses mentioned at:
www. ci. sf.ca.us/sfenviron~nent/articlesqr/2002/article/O7 1 002-2 .htm
The following is a list of sites with useful information on the components and criteria of
environmental golf courses:
1. Golf Course Design & Const. BMP’s -
www. state.nj .us/dep/watershedmgt/DOCS/pdfs/golf-chapter-1 .PDF
2. Golf Course Design and maintencance Model Ordinance -
www .dnr. st ate.la.us/crm/coastmgt/interagencyaff/nonpoidpdf/urban9 .pdf
3. Toxic Fairways: Risking Groundwater Contamination From Pesticides on
Long Island Golf Courses - www.oag.state.ny.us/environment/golf95.html
4. Golf & a Healthy Ecosystem -
www.riveroaksgardenclub.org/PDF/EnvironTnentally-Friendly-Golf-Exhibit.pdf
cc: City of Carlsbad (Sandy Holder, Don Rideout, Michael Holzmiller)
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