Nutrient Management Regulation
Remember to get all your golfers to send a copy of the letter to their MLA and to the Minister of Water Stewardship, asking for a review of the regulation. The more the merrier!
Link to the Nutrient Management Regulation:
http://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/regs/pdf/w065-062.08.pdf
 
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Environment Up-Date July 2008
Environmental Update
by The Environmental Committee
The MGSA Board is pleased to introduce the environmental update section to the magazine. The environmental update section will focus on provincial guidelines and regulations that relate to the golf course industry. Please be sure to read the section with every issue. For the first environmental update the primary focus will be the Nutrient Management Regulation that is scheduled to take affect January 2009. A lot of discussion has taken place over the past
year regarding the nutrient management plan and use. Who will this plan effect? Who do we talk to regarding site assessments? What are buffer zones. An information meeting regarding the nutrient management plan was held for allied golf association members, club executives
at Southwood Golf and Country Club on May 9th. The meeting was well attended.
Many thanks go out to Ray Savard and the Southwood team for hosting the event.
Summary of what to expect and to do with regards to the nutrient management plan:
• The purpose of the proposed Nutrient Management Regulation is to protect water quality by encouraging responsible nutrient planning and by regulating or prohibiting the application of nitrogen and phosphorus.
• Take soil samples of areas that receive fertilizer (greens, tees, fairways). Three soil samples minimum and samples can be composites tests. For example you can group fairways together to make one test. Each soil sample could have up to 20 cores to make the sample. Soil sample must be taken through the 2008 season for the information to be submitted as a part of your nutrient management plan in February
• The soils lab must use the Olsen method (0.5M sodium bicarbonate) and identify the water soluble nitrate nitrogen.
• If any property borders an identified vulnerable body of water (please view link below) with grass cover there is a 15 meter buffer zone where no nitrogen or phosphorous of any type can be
applied. For ponds on properties the buffer zone is 3 meters where no nitrogen or phosphorous can be applied.
• Please review the link to the Nutrient Management Regulation for more information.
http://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/regs/pdf/w065-062.08.pdf
• The Plan to be completed is broken down into the following sections:
Section A - Contact Information
Section B - Fertilizer Storage Facilities
Section C - Nutrient Buffer Zones
Section D - Nutrient Application Summary
Section E - Certification of Plan
• Deadlines for filing the nutrient management plan are:
Prior to February 10th of 2009 for
spring fertilization programs.
• Prior to July 10th of 2009 for fall
fertilization programs.
• Ability to submit a plan not less than 10 days prior to land application provided that the owner
or operator was reasonably unable to submit it before the deadline.
The guidelines are currently being finalized and should be sent to all golf courses by mid July.
Please contact Mr. David Hay,
from Manitoba Environment
at 204-945-7096 or
email at David.Hay@gov.mb.ca
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MGSA and the Environment
As the number of courses continues to grow, so does the need for prudent environmental management, health and safety. Golf courses often, for aesthetic reasons and/or irrigation purposes, incorporate or are constructed near water bodies. Their proximity to these environmentally sensitive areas can impact water quality, aquatic and wildlife habitat, etc. Construction activities, pesticide use, irrigation withdrawals and other routine golf course activities can have a negative impact on the surrounding environment.
Wildlife at Minnawasta Golf Course
In April 1999, the Manitoba Golf Superintendents Association (MGSA) initiated the development of a Safety and Environment Management System (SEMS) via a self-assessment checklist. From all accounts the superintendents found the review beneficial from an environmental and economic standpoint, and allowed them to approach their Board of Directors to implement report recommendations for environmental improvement.
Enhancement at clubs has been seen in a variety of areas including product substitution, new tank installations, improved chemical storage and handling, enhanced signage and training, proper disposal practices, reduced pesticide use and improved cultural practices.
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MGSA Safety and Environmental Management Program
The MGSA SEMS's program allows the superintendents to incorporate new knowledge, information sharing and tools into daily operational practices.
Components of the SEMS program that have been successfully implemented include;
1. On-going use of the Self-Assessment Checklist to raise awareness and to improve the environmental performance at golf courses.
2. The development of an Integrated Pest Management Tool to be utilized at Manitoba golf courses in an attempt to reduce pesticide use in the province.
3. Conduct Habitat/Wildlife Inventory and Mappingon golf courses to support other Sustainable Communities Projects in the province and to encourage habitat/wildlife enhancement on golf courses.
4. Organize and conduct Community Education Workshops to assist Manitoba communities to adopt better environmental practices in their community.
Other projects, which have been supported by MGSA, include;
1. The development of a Health and Safety Manual
2. The development of an Emergency Response Manual
3. A surface water/runoff water quality study at one golf course
4. Habitat mapping techniques
The success of this ambitious program has led to other provinces and associations to adopt many of the MGSA components (e.g. CGSA and Atlantic Golf) and Manitoba plans to continue to implement this very progressive voluntary Pollution Prevention project into other related sectors.
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Environmental Assessment Evaluation
If you have completed an initial assessment and/or follow-up visit please complete the environmental assessment evaluation form located in the members link.
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