Best Management Practices for Maryland Golf Courses

Irrigation

The supplemental use of water for course play and non-play areas is essential to supporting healthy turfgrass and sustaining optimal course playability, aesthetics, marketability, and club membership participation. BMPs related to water use conserve and protect water resources. Conservation and efficiency-related efforts consider the strategic use of appropriate course and irrigation design, plant selection, computerized and data-integrated scheduling, and alternative water quality/supply options that maximize plant health and reduce the potential for negative impacts on natural resources. Water quality protection is an integrated approach that includes irrigation practices, pesticide and nutrient practices, and regulatory compliance measures and structural measures as they concern environmental stewardship and policy. Irrigation BMPs may also provide an economic, regulatory compliance, and environmental stewardship advantage to those who consider them part of their irrigation management plan. BMPs are not intended to increase labor or place an undue burden on the owner/superintendent. If applied appropriately, BMPs can help stabilize labor costs, extend equipment life, and limit repair and overall personal and public liability. Golf course owners are responsible for contacting federal, state, and local water use authorities at the pre-and post-construction phases to determine annual or specific water consumption (water rights), permitting guidelines, and other regulatory requirements. Most uses of water in Maryland require a Water Appropriation Permit (WAP) from the MDE. Permitted users with withdrawals (surface water or groundwater) exceeding 10,000 gallons per day are required to report monthly withdrawals to MDE. MDE maintains a permit guide with information on water use appropriation and permits. MDE maintains the state’s official drought status . Maryland uses a four-stage approach to drought status. Superintendents should be aware when Stage 3 (Warning) and Stage 4 (Emergency) drought conditions are declared. At Stage 3, golf course compliance with water use restrictions is voluntary. At Stage 4, restrictions are mandatory for non-essential water uses, including prohibitions on irrigation and watering on golf courses, with the following exceptions: • Watering of tees and greens between the hours of 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. • Watering of localized areas with a handheld hose at the minimum rate necessary. • Watering fairways when irrigation is reduced by at least 30%. • As part of a necessary overseeding or resodding operation during September and October at the minimum rate necessary. During a Stage 4 drought, sources of water other than potable water should be used when available. In addition, irrigation of rough areas is not allowed. For more information on water use restrictions during drought, see the Maryland Statewide Conservation Water Conservation Advisory Committee Final Report . 2000. Regulatory Considerations

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