Inland Empire Golfer - March 2008 - (Page 19)

According to Henry, “These grasses are desirable here in the inland region due to the fact they use 20 per cent less water than cool season grasses and can perform adequately under moderate (30 per cent) water reduction giving them the ability to withstand our summers without wasting water.” WATER CRISIS ROUNDTABLE: A combination of years of drought, and a court ordered reduction of drinking water supplies from the Bay Delta area by 30 per cent due to a ruling on an endangered species, prompted several city and county water agencies to roundtable at Morongo Casino to focus on understanding the depth of these water shortages and the means to mitigate them. Co-hosted by Riverside County Supervisor Marion Ashley and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, regional leaders were invited for an open and frank discussion on water supply and demand. More than 300 participants attended the half-day symposium. Clearly evident is the strong leadership of collaboration and cooperation across many stakeholders. There is no mistake. The serious tenor of the leaders leaning forward and finding solutions within the talented stakeholders were present. Steve Robbins, Coachella Valley Water District’s general manager, encouraged the use of ET “smart timers” which could result in a 26 percent reduction in water usage. John Rossi, general manager of Western Municipal Water District, stressed the need for consistency across regions to review outdoor landscapes and retrofitting irrigation from cost savings. Tony Pack, Eastern Municipal Water District’s general manger, spoke of efforts on groundwater de-salination plants. EMWD has invested $150 million on plant infrastructure, producing 5000 acre-feet per year. Borre Winckel, executive officer, BIA Riverside County Chapter, also addressed the group stressing LEED (Leadership in Engineering and Design) attributes for future developments. I spoke to Steve Robbins about Coachella Valley’s efforts to craft County Ordinance 859, bringing the stakeholders into the process early on to ensure a balanced approach. “In developing the ordinance, we invited all stakeholders to the table. Advisory Committees included representatives from the cities, www.inlandempiregolfer.com landscape architects, golf superintendents, BIA and others. Each of them became a partner in … a collaborative effort in crafting the ordinance. I suggest other regions do the same.” For the golf superintendents and managers within the region, the message from Martha Davis, executive manager for policy development, Inland Empire Utilities Agency, left a strong imprint. Previous water plans project seven of ten years to replenish water supplies, including aquifers. The region has experienced only three years of the past 10 to replenish the water supply creating a deficit. I remember the words, but not the author “What is your water today may not be yours tomorrow.” Creating a water management plan now will ensure a deliberate and pro-active plan to systematically cut back on water use in the future. WATER USERS’ BEHAVIOR NEEDS TO CHANGE: Mike Bacich and Clay Monroe from Riverside Public Utilities emphasize their assessment that water users’ behavior needs to change, and education is a key component. “At the City of Riverside Public Utilities, we are making efforts to educate our customers on water conservation. The fundamental step to take is to understand the difference between watering properly and watering efficiently. Watering properly means understanding your landscape, watering efficiently has to do with knowing your irrigation system,” according to Clay. Studies indicate that 70 percent of water is applied outside, and that at least 50 percent of that results in overwatering. RPUC has taken steps to mitigate their water use by methods such as installing artificial turf by EasyTurf outside of their collection office on Orange Street, and by the use of a smart controller in White Park, with a resultant reduction of 48 to 50 percent in water use. You can look for RPUC at the annual Science and Technology Education Partnership (STEP) in October at the Riverside Convention Center. Paul Standerfer is with Toro Irrigation in Riverside and is an advocate of behavior change when it comes to best practices of water management for golf courses. “Track how much water is in the soil and … only apply the water that is needed.” The INLAND EMPIRE GOLFER March 2008 19 http://www.inlandempiregolfer.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Inland Empire Golfer - March 2008

Inland Empire Golfer - March 2008 Contents Cover Story: Shenzhen China & The Inland Empire The Looming Water Shortage Artificial Turf Demand Grows Leisure Living Bob Hope Chrysler Classic Mechanics Of The Bunker Shot The Proper Golf Swing Motion Callaway Squareways What's New? How Well Do You Know The Rules? Golf Course Reviews IE Golf Course Directory

Inland Empire Golfer - March 2008

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