arizona golf courses water compliance and conservation arizona department of water resources 2009
TRANSCRIPT
Arizona Golf Courses Arizona Golf Courses Water Compliance Water Compliance
and and Conservation Conservation
Arizona Department of Water ResourcesArizona Department of Water Resources
20092009
Discussion TopicsDiscussion Topics
1. Water Regulation in Arizona – Background
2. Phoenix AMA Golf Course Water Use
3. Conservation Allotment Calculations
New vs. Historic Courses
Temporary Additional Allotments
4. Turf-Facility Flexibility Accounts
Example Facility Violation
5. Enforcement Procedures
6. Future Golf Course Regulation in Arizona
Water Regulation in Arizona – BackgroundWater Regulation in Arizona – Background
• Arizona is an arid environment with limited water supplies
• Prior to 1980 groundwater law was addressed in a piecemeal fashion by the courts because there wasn’t a comprehensive body of law dealing with water
• This resulted in many confusing and contradictory decisions over the years
• Population growth and groundwater overdraft were increasing problems
Water Regulation in Arizona – BackgroundWater Regulation in Arizona – Background
• Most of the overdraft problem was in the population centers and agricultural areas of the state
• The Central Arizona Project was under construction but funding jeopardized unless Arizona controlled groundwater overdraft
• In the 1970s the state Legislature sought help from municipal providers, agricultural users and mining interests
• Result: AZ State Legislature passed a comprehensive Groundwater Management Act in 1980
Water Regulation in Arizona – BackgroundWater Regulation in Arizona – Background
• The Groundwater Management Act created Active Management Areas and Irrigation Non-expansion Areas in the population centers and agricultural areas of the state
• Active Management Areas (AMAs) are areas of the state that are “actively managed” through the creation of groundwater rights and limitations on the amount of groundwater that can be pumped, delivered and received
• Irrigation Non-Expansion Areas (INAs) are managed to prohibit agricultural expansion only
• The Groundwater Code generally does not regulate water use outside AMAs
AMAs and INAsAMAs and INAs• Established AMAs
– Phoenix (1980)– Pinal (1980)– Prescott (1980)– Tucson (1980)– Santa Cruz (1994) formerly part of Tucson AMA
• Established INAs– Douglas (1980)– Joseph City (1980)– Harquahala (1981)
Golf Courses Outside of AMAsGolf Courses Outside of AMAs
• No ADWR conservation requirements outside of AMAs
• Individual counties, cities or towns may regulate golf courses independent of ADWR
• ADWR Adequate Water Supply Program• If golf course is in a subdivision that requires a
demonstration of adequacy the golf course must demonstrate a 100 year adequate water supply
• May limit the amount of water for a golf course
Phoenix AMA Golf Course Water UsePhoenix AMA Golf Course Water Use
2007 STATISTICS• 3,569 Golf Holes or
198 18-Hole Courses• 16,175 turfed acres
3,325 LWU acres
1,114 surface water acres
• Approx. 3% - 4% of total AMA use
75
85
95
105
115
125
135
145
155
165
175
185
195
2005 2006 2007
Th
ou
san
ds
Acr
e-F
eet
2150
2200
2250
2300
2350
2400
2450
Golf Course
Phoenix AMA
Linear (GolfCourse)
Conservation Allotment CalculationsConservation Allotment Calculations • Acre-Foot Definition
• Amount of water needed to cover 1 acre 1 foot deep
• 1 acre-foot = 325,851 gallons• 1 acre-foot is enough water for 2 – 3 households
for a year
• Maximum application rates• Turf = 4.9 a-f/acre• Low water use landscape = 1.5 a-f/acre• Lake = 6.2 a-f/acre
Conservation Allotment CalculationsConservation Allotment CalculationsConservation requirements for new regulation 18 hole golf courses in Phoenix AMA
Constructed post 1984 and minimum of 6,200 yards in length
Example calculation for maximum annual allotment based on 18 holes:
LANDSCAPE TYPE MAX ACRES MAX ACRE-FEET
Turf Acres 5 acres/hole 441 af
Additional Turf And Low Water Use Acres: 5 a-f/hole 90 af
Lake Acres0.14 acres/hole
15.62 af
TOTAL ALLOTMENT 546.62 a-f/yr
Conservation Allotment CalculationsConservation Allotment CalculationsConservation requirements for historic regulation 18 hole golf courses in Phoenix AMA
Constructed pre 1985. May have historic turf, lake, and low water use acres > 90 acres.
If remodeling occurs ( > 2 holes) historic exemption is reduced to 90 a-f maximum for new courses.
Example calculation for annual allotment based on 18 holes:
LANDSCAPE TYPE MAX ACRES MAX ACRE-FEET
Turf Acres 5 acres/hole 441 af
Historic Turf Acres (above 5 acres/hole) 4 a-f/acre Unlimited
Historic Low Water Use Acres 1.5 a-f/acre Unlimited
Lake Acres .14 acres/hole Unlimited
TOTAL ALLOTMENT Variable
Temporary Additional AllotmentsTemporary Additional Allotments
The following temporary additional allotments all require approval from ADWR Director.
LANDSCAPE TYPE ADDITIONAL LIMITATIONS
Newly Turfed Area Establishment 1 a-f/acre 1 year only
Revegetation 1.5 a-f/acreUp to 3 years
Approved plant list
Lake (Initial fill and refill) Total Volume needed Year of fill/refill only
Leaching (TDS > 1,000 MG/LTR) Formula Based Until TDS < 1,000 MG/LTR or 4MP
Golf Course Conservation IncentivesGolf Course Conservation Incentives
• Turfed acre reduction usu. maintains conservation allotment unless significant remodeling (2 or more holes)
• Renewable supplies
Effluent = 40% credit (100 af = 60 af)
Surface Water
Turf-Facility Flexibility AccountsTurf-Facility Flexibility Accounts
A turf-facility flexibility account:• measures compliance status • was created to address annual weather variability• rolls over from year-to-year for TMP duration• is equal to 20% of a facility’s conservation
allotment • Debit – subtract overuse if use more than allotment
• May not exceeded >20% of conservation allotment
• Credit – add under use if use less than annual allotment
• Accrues to a maximum of 20% credit for using less water than conservation allotment.
Flexibility Account Violation: ExampleFlexibility Account Violation: Example
-100
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
ConservationAllotment
Annual Water Use
Flex Account Balance
Flex AccountViolation
Additional Compliance ViolationsAdditional Compliance Violations
• Facility Conservation Plan on file
• Exceedance of Permitted Well Volume
• Exceedance of Groundwater Withdrawal Authority
Note: A facility’s legal entitlement to withdrawal groundwater (pursuant to Type 1 or 2 rights and GIU) may be greater than or less than the conservation allotment
Enforcement ProceduresEnforcement Procedures
• Advisory Letters
• Citations
• Notice of Non-Compliance
• Stipulation and Consent Orders (SCO)
Advisory LettersAdvisory Letters
• Issued for suspected minor violations of the Groundwater Code and/or Management Plan
• Explains basis of ADWR findings• Encourages regulated person to contact ADWR
for assistance and additional information• Not considered a formal enforcement action• If violations are repetitious further enforcement
action may apply
CitationsCitations
• Currently issued in every ADWR regulatory program (except Surface Water)
• Violations are ‘remedied’ by assessment of fines/civil penalties and possibly requires instructions/actions to be completed by violator
• Citations must be paid within 30 days and upon payment the case is closed
• ADWR usu. monitors violator for several years to ensure compliance in future
Notice of Non-ComplianceNotice of Non-Compliance
• May be first formal notification of violation• Can be sent in conjunction with Report of Audit,
Field Investigation Report or prior to SCO process
• Sent when ADWR has determined that violation has occurred
• Provides regulated person with opportunity to contact ADWR
Stipulation and Consent Order (SCO)Stipulation and Consent Order (SCO)
• Generally utilized for repetitious violations or those involving large quantities of water
• Sets conditions that Respondent must meet by a specific date, payment of associated civil penalties
• Civil penalties may be reduced and in return Respondent agrees to complete all conditions set forth in SCO
Stipulation and Consent Order (SCO)Stipulation and Consent Order (SCO)
• Usually includes a probationary period of several years
• Violation of SCO results in full payment of any waived/reduced civil penalties
• Can be a negotiated process between ADWR and Respondent
• Monitoring continues throughout probationary period and beyond
Future Golf Course Regulation in ArizonaFuture Golf Course Regulation in Arizona
• We recognize the considerable economic impact of the golf industry in Arizona
• We recognize that the golf industry has contributed to water conservation by:• Conducting research• Investing in new technologies• Developing innovative turf grass management
techniques• Being creative when designing golf courses to use
less water• Implementing the use of non-groundwater water
supplies, especially reclaimed water
Future Golf Course Regulation in ArizonaFuture Golf Course Regulation in Arizona
Primary regulatory tool for golf courses in the AMAs is the Management Plan• A new management plan is developed every 10
years until 2025• Management Plans are used to achieve each AMA’s
management goal• Phoenix, Tucson and Prescott management goal is
safe-yield by 2025• The Fourth Management Plan is in early stages of
development
Future Golf Course Regulation in ArizonaFuture Golf Course Regulation in Arizona
Are we expecting the golf course industry do more?• We will evaluate current golf course
allotments and requirements and analyze the potential for additional conservation as we do for all water use sectors
• We will seek participation and input by the golf industry as we have done for previous management plans
Questions?Questions?
Arizona Department of Water Resources
Phoenix Active Management Area3550 N. Central Avenue, 2nd Floor
Phoenix, Arizona 85012(602) 771-8585
www.azwater.gov
Andrew CraddockChair, ADWR Compliance Program
Macreena CressTeam Lead, Industrial Program, Phoenix AMA