Executive Summary Lakeside Golf Club Best Management Practices
Executive Summary
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ENERGY
URBAN GOLF & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PLANNING, DESIGN, & CONSTRUCTION
MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS
WILDLIFE, THREATENED, AND ENDANGERED SPECIES
PESTICIDE MANAGEMENT
LAKESIDE
BMPs
INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT
NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT
IRRIGATION
CULTURAL PRACTICES
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POLLINATOR PROTECTION AND ENHANCEMENT
LANDSCAPE AND OUT-OFPLAY AREAS
WATER QUALITY AND STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
Commitment to Members, Community, and Environment Lakeside Golf Club is dedicated to providing a first-class golf course facility and healthy greenspace for recreation, exercise, and environmental stewardship – today and for generations to come. Lakeside comprises 100 acres of urban greenspace which provides valuable ecosystem services for the community such as cooling the city, tackling air pollution, filtering stormwater runoff, and providing wildlife habitat. We take pride in what we do and our commitment to sustainable resource management. Sustainability is integrated throughout our Lakeside Golf Club Best Management Practices (BMP) Guide in order to help balance performance with environmental stewardship. We believe sustainability is critical to the long-term success of the Club and have carefully considered our role as environmental stewards in development of our BMP guide. This manual provides an educational resource for members, our team, and community stakeholders in an effort to demonstrate the science-driven BMPs we utilize to protect and enhance the environment.
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UR BAN GOLF AND COMMU NITY ENGAGEM EN T Enhance collaboration, communications, and engagement with members, the community, city, and golf course stakeholders. · Ongoing, open communications include newsletters, committees, text messages. · Conduct the ladies garden tour to encourage education and member engagement. · Actively participate with the Green Committee, including behind the scenes and working demonstrations with equipment. · Assist with hosting member charity events and fundraisers for the community. · Provide a community benefit for the local high school, allowing the golf team to use the course for practice and play. · Train staff to clearly communicate with golfers and our non-golfing neighbors in a friendly manner about our BMPs. Empower our staff to be solutions-focused when addressing questions and concerns. · Exercise water wisdom and conservation by carefully maintaining irrigation heads so they do not leak or irrigate off desired turfgrass areas. · Ensure odor abatement of applications. · Incorporate health & safety protocols for golfers & staff. · Consider hosting a field trip, First Green STEM event, and Audubon certification.
P LANNING, DESIGN, AND CONS TRU CTION Early engagement amongst stakeholders is essential to designing or renovating a golf facility that operates efficiently with minimal effect on the environment. · Assemble qualified internal/external stakeholder team; establish objectives, conduct feasibility study · Select grass type(s) suited for the climate, soils, and irrigation needs. · Integrate sustainable practices in renovation, maintenance, and operation of the course. · Design the site and out-of-play areas to retain or restore existing native landscapes. · Where appropriate, enhance existing vegetation with native vegetation/materials next to long fairways and out-of-play areas. · Identify & preserve protected, endangered,
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threatened plant/wildlife species; preserve migration corridors. Promote habitat for plants/wildlife; retain natural site characteristics; use native vegetation to reduce irrigation & lower inputs. Implement mitigation measures, if any, as a result of the CEQA process. Stabilize soils to minimize soil erosion and maximize sediment containment. Maintain a construction progress report and communicate the report to permitting agencies. Use qualified contractors who are experienced in the special requirements of golf course construction. Design and locate cart paths to minimize environmental impacts. A small portion of paths at Lakeside are concrete, others are decomposed granite. Lakeside has constructed birdhouses and raptor perches in out-of-play areas. Future goal is to include hummingbird feeders. Plant butterfly gardens around the clubhouse and out-of-play areas. Lakeside incorporates propollinator plant areas on property.
WI L DL I F E, THREATEN ED , A N D EN DA N G ERED S PE C I E S Lakeside provides 100 acres of urban greenspace for wildlife habitat to maintain biological diversity and migration corridors, which is especially important in the greater Los Angeles area. · Bird species commonly found on the property include the House Sparrow, House Finch, California Towhee, Stellars Jay, California Scrubjay, Various hummingbirds, Various goldfinches, Spotted towhee, Wrens, Sparrows, Bluebirds, Ravens, Crows, Red tail hawks, and Coopers hawks. · Additional wildlife includes raccoons, skunks, and coyotes. · Maintain relations with the California Fish and Wildlife department. · Understand whether the property is an existing or potential habitat for endangered species. · Retain existing vegetation when possible and plant native vegetation. · Use “xeriscape” landscaping and native drought tolerant plants where feasible. · Lakeside has constructed birdhouses and raptor perches in out-of-play areas, with a goal to include hummingbird feeders. · Educate staff, members/guests, and community.
· Use Lakeside member communications to educate golfers and the public on steps to promote wildlife habitats. · Invite local schools, garden clubs, master gardeners, etc. to visit the facility to demonstrate steps to promote habitats. · Lakeside is considering participation in Audubon bird counts or hosting bird-watching tours for members. · Lakeside also aspires to get involved with Audubon International.
P O LLINATOR PROTECTION AND ENHANCEM ENT Pollinators like native bees, honeybees, butterflies, and hummingbirds help encourage growth of California crops such as berries, melons, apples, pears, almonds, peaches, and avocados. · Develop new and/or enhance monarch butterfly, bumblebee, or other habitats using pollinatorfriendly and native plants. Lakeside incorporates pro-pollinator plant areas on property to encourage habitat with varying color, shape, size, odor, growth habits, and seasonality. · Designate plant inventory for Lakeside. Incorporate pollinator habitat where practicable into the landscape management plan. · Provide shelter, such as open patches of soil, old wood, branches, and leaves. · Protect plants from cold weather and make sure plants get enough water. · Pollinator protection language is a label requirement found on pesticide labels and must be followed; it is the law! · Utilize Integrated Pest Management Practices; follow label instructions for applications. · Reduce Drift. Monitor wind speed and direction, use coarse-droplet producing nozzles, and use drift control agents in the tank mix. · Mow flowering plants before pesticide applications to remove blooms. · Manually remove weeds or spot treat in pollinator habitat areas when possible. · Avoid applying pesticides during bloom season when pollinators are active. If application is necessary, follow label information. · If flowering weeds are prevalent, control them before applying insecticides. · Use the latest spray technologies (i.e., drift-reduction nozzles) to prevent off-site translocation. · Use granular formulations of pesticides that are known to be less hazardous to bees.
I RRI G ATI O N Lakeside prioritizes water conservation through using recycled water for irrigation, selecting drought tolerant turfgrass species, and investing in advanced irrigation technology systems. · Design and/or maintain a system to meet the golf course’s peak water requirements under normal and high use conditions. · Develop annual water budget. Allocate funds for system updates and repairs, Lakeside budgets for replacement of sprinkler heads and swing joints. · Lakeside uses reclaimed water, an alternative to potable water. · Lakeside uses Bermudagrass with Ryegrass overseeding, salt-tolerant species that conserve potable water and mitigate impacts from reclaimed water. · Lakeside separates landscape into a separate program for clubhouse and common areas. · Plant out of play areas with drought-resistant native or well-adapted, noninvasive plants that provide an attractive, low-maintenance landscape. · Use mulches in shrubs and flower beds to reduce water evaporation losses. · Use drip irrigation for landscape to supply water only to plants that need it. · Perform regular inspections of the irrigation system for performance and efficiency. · Pump station consists of Variable Frequency Drive motors, pressure sensors, water meters, and leak detection. · Central Computer allows for time adjustments and running the shortest water cycle with best pressure and distribution. · Use the weather station to calculate evapotranspiration and determine amount of water that needs to be returned to the soil. · Conserve water using soil moisture meters, hoses, and handheld monitoring through Rainbird. · Choose correct type of irrigation for area requiring water. · Conduct irrigation efficiency testing. · Lakeside considers reduction of manicured turfgrass and conversion to native areas to reduce water use if making renovations. · Supplement irrigation only for establishment of new plantings and hand watering hot spots.
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WAT ER QUA LITY AND STORMWATER M A NAGEM EN T Lakeside’s turfgrass provides green infrastructure for stormwater capture and filtering to reduce runoff and remove pollutants from the watershed. · Reduce speed of stormwater travel in order to maximize infiltration into soil, reducing runoff. Stormwater velocity can be reduced by placement of dense, well-rooted vegetation along paths of travel. · Consider pervious pavers, or brick or concrete pavers separated by sand and planted with grass, to increase stormwater infiltration in hardscape such as parking lots, cart paths, etc. · Changes in slope or grade of the course may influence stormwater flow. If the course is undergoing renovation, activities may require a SWRCB Construction General Permit with Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan to prevent erosion and sedimentation. · A “treatment train” is the best approach to stormwater management - water is conveyed from one treatment to another with conveyances that contribute to the treatment. · Eliminate or minimize as much directly connected impervious area as possible. · Identify impervious surfaces, such as building roofs, parking lots, cart paths, and walkways, and assess drainage, runoff, and erosion, if any, that is created during rain events. Implement mitigation. · Use vegetated swales to slow and infiltrate water and trap pollutants in the soil, where they can be naturally destroyed by soil organisms. · Use landscape and planter beds in parking lots to catch, filter, and infiltrate water. · Disconnect runoff from gutters and roof drains from impervious areas, so water flows onto permeable areas. · Lakeside retains a qualified environmental scientist to design a sampling and analysis plan for water sampling, conducted once per year.
LANDSCAPE AND OUT-OF -PLAY A REA S Landscape areas provide enhanced aesthetics, wildlife habitat, noise abatement, natural cooling, and flood mitigation. · When constructing or enhancing a non-play area, plants adapted to the local ecosystem are selected
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to establish and grow in the soil, microclimate, rainfall, light patterns, insects and other pests, and endemic nutrient levels over many years. Select trees, plants, and grass species to attract birds seeking wild fruits, herbs, seeds, and insects. Know the ultimate sizes and growth rates of trees, shrubs, and ground covers. Select stress-tolerant species or cultivars to manage periodic dry/wet conditions. Choose the most stress-tolerant species or cultivar for a particular area. Lakeside is creating a tree plan, including an inventory of primary trees and planting needs. Recording information such as location, condition, appearance, site conditions and sun angles, and impacts on turf, design, play, and other nearby trees. The purpose and/or function of any added tree must be defined prior to planting. Consider tree species’ mature size and growth before planting trees. Avoid species that are weakly branched or brittle-wooded and susceptible to storm damage. Avoid trees that produce invasive roots or large quantities of surface roots. Avoid trees vulnerable to pests and biotic problems. Avoid trees with thorns, or limit planting to outof-play areas. Trees that frequently drop leaves, needles, and debris should be avoided near play. Lakeside has begun planting a small tree farm with the hope of transplanting trees from the property to other areas of the golf course.
CU LTU RA L PRA CTI C ES Cultural practices impact health, playability, and efficiencies of the golf course. · Mowing frequency should increase during periods of rapid growth and decrease during dry, stressful periods. · Plant growth regulators have been shown to improve overall turf health when used as a regular management tool. PGRs also reduce fuel consumption to promote air quality. · If turf becomes too tall, it should not be mowed down to the desired height all at once. Such severe scalping reduces turf density and can result in a dramatic reduction in root growth. Tall grass should be mowed frequently, and height gradually decreased until desired height of cut is achieved. · Grass clipping removal should not exceed one-third of the total height of the actual height of the plant being mowed.
· Mower blades should be kept sharp so damage to the turf leaf does not occur. Dull blades will result in shredding leaf tissue, increasing water loss and potential for disease development. · Reel mowers are ideally suited for maintaining turfgrass stands that require a height of cut below 1.5 inches. · Rotary mowers, when sharp and properly adjusted, deliver acceptable cutting quality for turf cut above 1 inch in height. · Flail mowers maintain utility turf areas that are mowed infrequently and do not have a high aesthetic requirement. · Core aerification involves removal of small (0.250.75-inch diameter) cores or plugs from the soil profile. Annual core aerification programs should be designed to remove 15%-20% of surface area. Hightraffic areas may require a minimum of two to four core aerifications annually. · Core aerification should be conducted only when grasses are actively growing to aid in quick recovery of surface density. · Vary depth of aerification events by incorporating varying length tines to prevent development of compacted layers in the soil profile. · Topdress the playing surface with sand following core aerification and heavy vertical mowing to aid in recovery. Rates vary from 0.125 to 0.25 inch in depth and will depend on capacity of the turf canopy to absorb the material without burying the plants. · Select warm season grass species/cultivars for overseeding that are adapted to the desired use, note disease resistance and spring transition traits.
N UT RIENT MANAGEM ENT Proper nutrient management plays a key role in reducing environmental risk and improving golf course economic sustainability. · Lakeside Golf Club retains a professional consultant to assist with its agronomic plan. · Conduct site analysis: undergo soil tests, understand pH levels, conduct plant tissue sampling; conduct a water analysis annually. · The purpose of a soil test is to provide a prediction of a plant’s response to an applied nutrient. Regular, accurate and consistent sampling is essential to providing useful test information over time. · Seaweed extracts, humic acids, triazole fungicides, amino acids, potassium silicate, and salicylic acid are natural materials shown to have biostimulant effects
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that reduce environmental stress, improve growth, and enhance root development. In most cases, soil pH of 6.3 is ideal because it provides the greatest probability of micronutrient availability. California soils are often saline or sodic (referred to as “alkaline”) and have a high pH of approximately 7.8. To increase pH, apply a liming material that contains Ca2+ and neutralizes acidity. To lower soil pH, products containing elemental sulfur can be applied. In some cases, application of irrigation water with a reduced pH can address alkaline soils. Apply nutrients when turfgrass is actively growing. Apply slow-release N fertilizers at appropriate time of year to maximize release characteristics. Reduced height of cut and excessive traffic on putting greens results in an increased need for growth, leading to increased need for plant nutrients. Tees and landing areas often have higher fertility requirements than fairways and roughs because they suffer constant divot damage. Always calibrate and adjust spreader to reduce off-site application and apply the correct amount of fertilizer. Do not apply if heavy rains are likely. Adhere to proper fertilizer storage, loading, clean-up procedures.
I N TEG RATED PES T MA N A G EMEN T IPM is an environmentally-sensitive sciencebased systems approach using a variety of strategies for pest management. · Always read and follow pesticide label instructions, the label is the law. · In California, restrictions apply that prohibit use of certain pesticides near listed, special-status species. · Use record keeping, monitoring, pest threshold practices, and action thresholds. · Determine pest life cycle and know which life stage can be controlled most effectively (i.e., for an insect, whether it is an egg, larva, pupa, or adult). · Use cultural, mechanical, or physical methods to prevent pests (i.e., mulch to discourage weed growth in landscaped areas), reduce pest habitat (i.e., practice good sanitation in buildings), or promote biological control (i.e., bat/owl boxes enhance habitat to control flying insects and vertebrate pests). · Take preventive measures, including the use of good agronomic practices which include proper mowing, mowing height adjustment, frequency, and duration of aeration and/or thatch removal, turf cultivar
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and time of year, proper irrigation, soil drainage, monitoring soil temperature, etc. Consult experts in turfgrass, soils, fertilizers, pesticides, and trees as needed. Determine whether corrective action(s) reduced or prevented pest populations, were economical, and minimized risks by keeping records of control technique, labor and materials used, cost, and degree of effectiveness. Diverse IPM strategies for prevention and control, in combination with rotating pesticide MOAs helps prevent pesticide resistance. Train employees on pest identification, pesticide selection, record-keeping, mixing, loading, and application; provide PPE and train on use. Educate golfers on IPM programs, notify and post pesticides being sprayed with the relevant location.
P E STICIDE MANAGEM ENT Pesticide storage, handling, and disposal should be part of an IPM strategy that promotes health and safety. · Always read and follow label directions, the label is the law. · A product should not be used unless explicitly labelled for a given scenario. Select the least toxic pesticide. · Lakeside provides Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) training for applicators. Use PPE even if the label does not call for it. · Be aware of soil types, depth to water, and the presence of any threatened, endangered, or listed species. · If the label contains language describing potential environmental and/or ecological risk, such as potential injury to pollinators or risk to trees downslope of the application area, be certain to adhere to this information to reduce exposure. · Know emergency response procedures in case of an accidental spill or exposure. · Avoid applying pesticides when the wind direction is unfavorable. Avoid applying in foggy conditions, that may result in a temperature inversion. · Properly calibrate equipment and use coarse droplet sizes when possible. Lakeside deploys spray technologies including air-induction nozzles to reduce drift and has invested in advanced sprayer technology to ensure application accuracy, control product use, and promote IPM practices.
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· Load and mix pesticides over an impermeable surface with berms (a closed loop system), so spills can be collected and managed. · Records are maintained of pesticide inventory with trade name, active ingredient(s), signal word, quantity, and date of purchase. Lakeside submits monthly information on applications of pesticides using Pesticide Use Reports to the local CAC. · Adopt a “first in–first out” inventory approach, using the oldest products first to ensure that the product shelf life does not expire. · Pesticide SDS are stored separately from the storage room and readily accessible on-site.
MA I N TEN A N C E O PERATI O N S Lakeside maintenance operations and facilities are dedicated to providing a safe, productive, and enjoyable environment for employees, as well as golfers and visitors. · Adhere to federal and state hiring regulations and requirements. Provide ongoing OSHA and safety training, post required signage. · Communicate written operating standards in multiple languages and through various formats. · Educate on PPE and proper safety precautions when operating equipment or handling chemicals. · Develop relationships within the community through a variety of school and government-based programs to diversify workforce. · The maintenance facility includes an employee lunch/break room which is kept orderly and clean to promote a relaxed atmosphere. · Lakeside has a designated education area for safety, equipment, and professional development training. · Lakeside hosts behind-the-scenes tours with members quarterly to share maintenance operations, updates, and demonstrations. · Lakeside maintains a list of equipment, each piece of equipment has a designated spot and is consistently parked in the same spot daily to help identify if a leak (oil, hydraulics, etc.) develops and increase accountability for optimal operating conditions. · Equipment washing areas drain to an oil/water separator before draining to a sanitary sewer or holding tank. Lakeside uses a closed-loop system. · Used oil, oil filters, antifreeze, solvents, batteries, and fluorescent lights should not be disposed of with typical trash and instead should be segregated and disposed of at your local county landfill or with appropriate vendors who hold State of California and USEPA licenses for such work.
· Separate and label designated areas for recyclables and waste. Lakeside educates staff and has increased recycling by using signage, communications, and incentives such as team events (i.e., barbeques).
E NE RGY Lakeside is focused on energy conservation through the use of energy efficient equipment and behaviors. · Lakeside incorporates quality management elements for continual improvement (plan, do, check, act) to reduce environmental and economic impacts. · Run irrigation pumps, charges golf carts, and maintenance equipment during off peak hours. · Lakeside is implementing a solar project and has been tracking and measuring energy use to prepare for implementation. · As solar is implemented and equipment is transitioned, Lakeside will educate staff regarding conservation and ongoing use practices. This could include dedicating a small portion of weekly or monthly meetings to noting progress, goals, and new ideas to foster improvement. · Lakeside utilizes electric golf carts. Electric maintenance equipment is being considered for future implementation. · Lakeside is pursuing designated electric vehicle parking and charging, estimating installation of 20 charging stations. · New technologies, products, or upgrades that improve efficiencies are evaluated with suppliers. · Conduct preventative maintenance on HVAC units and keep equipment clean to promote energy efficiencies. · Incorporate natural landscape and trees for shading and site selection. This includes strategic placement of shade-bearing plants. · LED lighting is implemented, and motion sensors turn lights off when not in use. · Water saving devices are installed in restrooms (flow regulators, water flow sensors, self-closing taps, lowflush toilets). · Lakeside conducts an annual irrigation audit to ensure optimal performance, efficiencies, and conservation measures. · The pump station consists of Variable Frequency Drive motors to save energy.
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Thank You for Your Support
Lakeside Golf Club 4500 Lakeside Dr, Burbank, CA 91505 www.lakesidegolfclub.com 10
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