City of Virginia Beach: Turf and Water Quality

Presented by Bryan Barlow Horticulturalist; Turf and Environmental Specialist

Athletic Fields

Athletic fields are Bermuda: Tifway 419 and Tifsport

 Over 200 acres of maintained turf  Includes high schools, middle schools, athletic complex’s and entertainment parks  Almost every site is a Tier 1 or Tier 2 site

 Tier 1 sites are maintained similar to a golf course with multiple mowing's per week and multiple fertilizations per year  All fertilized fields have soil samples pulled every 3 years (roughly $600)  Use the lowest amount of Nitrogen possible  Highest percentage of N applied in summer/warm months  All turf plans are based off results from soil test to best utilize products and funding

 Virginia operates under a MS5 permit which limits fertilizer usage to municipalities and golf courses  Limit the use of Phosphorus used – if soil test call for 0% we use none for the year – in 2010 only 1% P (total) was applied to our turf areas  Phosphorus causes eutrophication: a reduction in dissolved oxygen in bodies of water caused by an increase of mineral and organic matter  Have an IPM with higher Threshold Limits to limit pesticide applications – Pesticides have metals present, some which are toxic

 Irrigation systems are monitored daily and repairs made in a timely manner  Turf areas are verti-cut and aerated when needed to encourage growth and help ensure nutrient uptake  Continuously educating each school’s Student Athletic Coordinator and their coaches on proper management techniques and processes  Continuously educating our employees to aid in identifying and resolving issues on their sites

 Turf areas surrounding athletic fields are mowed at taller heights to slow sheet water movement Other Green Initiatives

 Establish Better Management Practices such as:  Added rain gardens, retention ponds, wet and dry ponds, and basic bmp’s to filter run off and absorb any accumulation of water  Incorporated buffer zones for all waterways  Allowed areas to regenerate to naturalized areas to reduce maintenance, chemical applications, and help filter runoff  Designated certain land as meadows and maintain under our “Meadow Management” guidelines

 Allow storm water ponds and some ditches/culverts to grow up with native species, such as cattails, to reduce nutrient loads  Bare areas created by us during construction or demolition are seeded/sodded to help limit erosion  Began testing water quality of some bmp’s in 2011 to ensure our practices are making a difference  Have constructed green roof’s on certain buildings to reduce runoff and created “zero stormwater runoff” sites (LEED Buildings) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design

 Use a non-chloride ice melt product during snow events and train all employees regarding proper applications techniques to avoid over applying  Good housekeeping skills:  Collect excessive amounts of sand that was applied during snow events and reuse (sand bags)  Clean up chemical/shop spills  Properly maintain chemical storage facilities, especially around drains Other City Initiatives

 w/Pre-M used on roadway medians. This helps limit weed growth, encourages more Bermuda growth, therefore reducing grass clippings, that eventually end up in the stormwater drains  Continually evaluating new products to provide the safest and most effective results  All the practices we do, are done to lesson our environmental footprint

Questions?