Arizona Groundwater Management (What is it?  How does it impact golf in the Phoenix area? How does it impact Westbrook Village Golf Club?
 
Historically, Arizonans have pumped ground water faster than it was replaced naturally – a condition known as “overdraft”.  Groundwater overdraft creates significant problems including increased costs for drilling and pumping and the eventual loss of supply. Water quality also suffers because groundwater pumped from greater depths typically contains more salt and minerals. In areas of severe groundwater depletion, the earth’s surface may sink, or “subside”, causing cracks or fissures that can damage roads, building foundations, and other underground structures.
 
Recognizing continued depletion of finite groundwater supplies as a threat to prosperity and quality of life, the Arizona Legislature created the framework to manage the state’s water supply for the future. (Source: “Securing Arizona’s Water Future” http://infoshare.azwater.gov/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-11348/Groundwater_Code_Overview.pdf
 
The 1980 Arizona Groundwater Management Code established five Active Management Areas (AMA) and within each AMA five Water Management Plans of which we are currently in the 3^rd, with the 4^th taking effect in 2023 and the 5^th in 2025.  Each successive plan continues to reduce the allotments of groundwater to be withdrawn.  However, Arizonans should not be waiting for the mandates reducing water usage.  Good water conservation practices should be integrated into their business and everyday life strategies.  
 
How does this impact golf in the Phoenix Area?
 
Provided for your reading pleasure is an article relating to the discussions from the last Turf Management meeting for the golf industry in Phoenix.  All golf courses in the Phoenix Active Management Area will be impacted (some more than others) going forward for a very long time.

https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-environment/2021/06/14/arizona-golf-courses-fight-water-conservation-efforts/5032190001/

David Escobedo and I have participated in the ADWR and Golf Alliance meetings both pre and during COVID-19.

David Escobedo and I have participated in the ADWR and Golf Alliance meetings both pre and during COVID-19.

How does this impact Westbrook Village Golf Club?
 
The article above addresses the golf courses in the Phoenix Active Management Area and WBVGC falls within that AMA.  Since the mid-1980s, the USGA has provided millions of dollars supporting golf course water conservation research. The goal is to use scientific information to more efficiently use water.  Turf is a major part of any water usage plan.
 
Turf removal, of course, is one answer as we did in the Lakes Irrigation Project in 2015. Xeriscape has its drawbacks, but it does reduce water used to overseed our turf.  Doing less overseeding and allowing the bermuda to do its natural thing (turn gold in the winter) is an option as well. We have all three on our golf courses – overseeded turf, nonoverseeded turf and xeriscaped areas. 
 
ADWR 4^th management plan informs golf courses will receive a water allotment for 90 acres of irrigated turf (that equates to 5 acres per hole).  The 5^th management plan is expected to reduce that even more and put less low water surface areas (landscaped/xeriscaped) in their calculations.  Part of the Golf Alliance discussions are that 90 acres is not the same 90 acres on all courses. Rolling hills are beautiful, but they require extra water to ensure the top of the hill gets adequate water.  In the case of our courses which are built on clay, the water cannot soak down into the ground and instead runs off to a low spot. This leaves spotty areas on the fairway and of course oversaturation.  Here is one picture that shows what that looks like.

1. Vistas 10 acres per year turf removal.  We have many acres on the Vistas course that removal of turf does not negatively impact the playability of the course but can positively impact the gallons of water used.  Those areas chosen blend in with existing xeriscaping and have ample trees and shrubs, relieving us from the expense of purchasing, planting and watering additional landscape in those areas.  This year we have marked the removal of 6 acres on holes #6, #7, #8, #9. Our goal is to have the golf course to the 90 acre requirement by 2023 when the 4^th management plan goes into affect.  The Lakes course is currently around 92 acres. We will monitor our annual water usage reports, which change based on monsoons, wind, heat, evaporation, well operations and well construction and adjust to additional turf removal efforts as required. 
2. Working with HOA’s Water Reduction Plan.  We will continue to work with the Homeowners Association in planning the “Secondary out-of-play” overseeded areas that run between the streets and the golf course property. We established a Water Task Force prior to COVID-19 and have not reconvened as of yet. During our Task Force meeting a Westbrook Village Golf Club Water-Usage Preparation and Drought-Emergency Plan was drafted.  We followed the USGA Drought-Emergency Plan Guide which included these steps:
   1. Secure an accurate map of the property
   2. Determine the size of turf and landscape areas
   3. Determine how much water is used annually to irrigate the golf course ( ADWR Annual Water Usage Report)
   4. Develop a prioritized list for irrigation scheduling (from highest priority to least)
   5. Determine how much water must be reduced for each drought-emergency level and where the reductions will be applied

 
Respectfully,
Jill Riedel, President