Georgias Water Issues

1
BREAK-OUT EDUCATION
NO WATER, NO GRASS, NO BUSINESS!
Wade Thomas, GCS, Idle Hour Club Mark Esoda,
CGCS, Atlanta Country Club Richard Staughton,
CGCS, Towne Lake Hills Golf Club Mike Waldron, GA
State Golf Association Chris Cupit, Rivermont
Golf Country Club
2008 NGCOA Annual Conference Golf Industry Show
2
No Water, No Grass No Business
NGCOA January 31, 2008Wade Thomas, GCS
3

• Major Water Crisis in Georgia
• Lake Lanier at record low levels
• At current growth rate Atlanta will be out of
  water by 2030
• Over half of the State in highest drought level
  possible
• No Quick Fixes

4

• How did we get into this situation?
• Chattahoochee River basin too small to supply
  Atlanta
• Three decades of missed opportunities
• Mother Nature

5

• How was golf brought into water issues of
  State (2001)
• Lanier GC told that their permit would not be
  renewed (look for alternate water source
  because current water supply being turned off!)
• Failure of partner (Urban Ag Council) to
  advocate on behalf of golf for Outdoor Water
  Rules

6

• What is the golf industry in Georgia doing in
  the face of the water crisis?
• Created the Georgia Allied Golf Council
• Hired 1 lobbying firm in Georgia
• Compiled economic impact survey data on the
  golf industry in Georgia
• Completed Best Management Practices for Water
  Conservation
• Proactive in the use of Reuse Water

7
(No Transcript)
8
No Water, No Grass, No Business

• NGCOA
• January 31, 2008
• Mark Esoda, CGCS

9

• We live in the worlds most technically
  sophisticated society, yet we are now right back
  where we were three thousand years ago, praying
  for rain.
• Garrett Ward, Texas Drought 1997

10
(No Transcript)
11
Water Task Force

• Negotiated revisions to the outdoor water rules
• Negotiated adding Turf Grass water quality to
  Reuse Guidelines
• Produced Georgia Golf is Green
• Produced a handbook on the Reuse Guidelines
• Produced and Economic survey (PGA)

12
(No Transcript)
13
(No Transcript)
14
(No Transcript)
15
(No Transcript)
16

• Water is the true wealth in a dry land without
  it, the land is worthless or nearly so. And if
  you control the water, you control the land that
  depends on it.
• Wallace Stegner
• Beyond the Hundredth Meridian, 1954

17
Technical Efforts in State Water Planning

• Representation on the Technical Advisory
  committee for Conservation
• Representation on the Technical Advisory
  committee for Reuse
• Representation on the State Wide Advisory Council

18
Progress so far

• Change Outdoor Water Rules
• Developed Relationships in EPD
• Participating on the Water Conservation
  Implementation Plan
• Entered into agreement with EPD to have 75 of
  GGCSA member courses on Best Management Practices
  for Water Conservation

19
No Water, No Grass, No Business!
Richard Staughton, CGCSTowne Lake Hills Golf
Club Woodstock, Georgia
NGCOA 1/31/08
20
Best Management Practices forWater
Conservation
21
Best Management Practices

• 2 broad options for adopting and implementing
  answers to environmental issues
• 1) Mandated Rigid Regulations
• - one size fits all
• - rules
• 2) Best Management Practices
• - site specific
• - flexibility

22
Best Management Practices

• BMPs for pesticides and fertilizer
• Best based on best current science
• Management allows site specific management
  
• Practices implemented practices that are
  ongoing

23
Best Management Practices

• Characteristics of BMP approaches
• 1) science based which provides activities that
  can be documented and monitored
• 2) whole-systems based where multiple strategi
  es are used
• 3) site-specific management which allows
  flexibility for the site to meet environmenta
  l goal

24
Best Management Practices

• Characteristics of BMP approaches
• 4) input is controlled to apply
• a) only what is needed
• b) at the lowest rate needed
• c) only when needed
• 5) values education, experience, and
  training
• 6) allows for integration of new concepts,
  devices, etc
• 7) proactive

25
Best Management Practices

• No single factor that will achieve maximum water
  conservation on a site
• it is adjustments within the whole
  system that produce successful BMPs

26
Best Management Practices
To ensure acceptance of BMPs by regulatory
agencies - industries (golf) must
actively adopt practices at
facilities (golf courses) and work
with politicians and regulatory groups
27
Best Management Practices

• Economics of irrigation on golf courses
• 1) cost of water
• 2) cost to irrigate
• - pump house/system expense
• - pump house/controller power
• - pump house/controller/sprinkler repairs
• - staff hours for repairs, scouting,
  hand watering, traffic control
• - testing
• 3) management practices
• - cultivation, wetting agents/PGRs

28
BMP Template

• Water Conservation Plan for golf courses as
  developed by University of Georgia
• - Drs. Bob Carrow and Clint Waltz
• - Draft Outline 5 key areas
• - Site Assessment
• - Overall Water Needs
• - Best Management Practices
• - Water Conservation Plan
• - Attachments

29
(No Transcript)
30
(No Transcript)
31
(No Transcript)
32
(No Transcript)
33
(No Transcript)
34
Best Management Practices

• Memorandum of Agreement
• - stated that 75 response from Association
  membership by May 2007
• response handed in 91 !!!
• Letter of Commendation from Governor Perdue in
  October 2007 recognizing water conservation
  efforts

35
(No Transcript)
36
Why Enter an Agreement - Golf

• Public Relations value
• Community Problem which Golf is part of the
  Community
• Education of public and regulators
• Take Action (be proactive)
• Value in the Legislative arena
• Hope for good unintended consequences

37
Why Enter an Agreement - EPD

• I dont know
• Fits the outdoor water management plan
• Baby Steps?
• Proof of action (real numbers)
• Fits the mission of DNR
• Unintended Consequences (help with water war??)

38
Issues

• One sided
• Leadership vs. Rank and File
• Timing
• Expense
• Industry Support
• No Exit Strategy
• No Strategy on how to move forward

39
Conclusions

• Possible to do
• Has great potential
• Heavy Lifting (Who?)
• Low hanging fruit vs. long term gain
• Fragile culture
• Relationship building and subject matter experts
  committee positions

40
The Future

• 2008 review and change Outdoor Water Rules
  Negotiate changes beneficial to Golf
• Participate in all planning efforts by the EPD
• Conservation Practices For Golf
• Work with Legislators to protect Golf
• Storage is a must

41
Business Practices will change

• Recording and reporting How much saved
• Manage for conservation
• Reduction of waste leaks, impervious surface
• Continuing education get credit for our
  credentials
• Rain sensors
• Permittee responsibilities

42
Other water issues

• Water Quality
• Storm Water Management
• Reuse Creating a market

43
(No Transcript)
44
(No Transcript)
45

• What we call mans power over nature turns out
  to be a power exercised by some men over other
  men with nature as its instrument.
• C.S. Lewis, The Abolition of Man, 1947

46
Thank You!
47
No Water,No Grass,No Business

• Chris Cupit, GM Owner
• Rivermont Golf Country Club

48
No Water

• Lake Lanier, Georgia
• Full Pool - 1071
• November 2007 - 1052
• Water Capacity down to 42
• 22 of lake surface GONE

49
No Grass

• Despite being excellent stewards of our resources
  and despite having 95 plus of our courses
  certified in BMPs, the Georgia EPD went to a
  Level 4 drought response and restricted golf
  course water use to GREENS ONLY
• In the summer, many courses will use more than
  100,000 gallons per day in normal circumstances
• Golf course use of water for recreation makes
  our industry...

50
an easy......
51
Golf Courses as Businesses

• A typical golf course
• Initiation Fee of 10,000 and monthly dues of
  350
• 500 Members
• 65-100 Employees
• Sit on 150 acres

52
More Numbers

• Average revenues of 4MM to 4.5 MM
• In Georgia alone, golf is a multi- billion dollar
  industry providing green space, jobs, tax revenue
  and of course, great fun.
• Yet, 2006-07 saw record contraction in the
  industry and decreasing margins for operators.
• Golf participation and rounds played have already
  been flat for years

53
Water Costs

• If water is rationed, golfers (consumer) must
  accept different playing conditions
• If water is restricted or the industry becomes a
  target for increased regulation someone will pay!
  
• More regulation will demand funding and who is a
  great target?
• Rich golfers and their clubs!

54
Choices for Owners

• 99 of owners are not vanity owners like Trump
  or Wynn
• Most courses are still smallish operators who
  depend on a single club for livelihood
• More downward pressure on rounds played or
  increased costs for water usage will result in
  owners looking at an exit strategy
• 150 acres of developable land in suburban
  locations???

55
No Business
56
Golf has a great story to tell

• This should not be the water legacy

57
This should be