Drought Response Plan
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Section 1
Declaration of Policy and Purpose ......................................................................... 3
Section 2 Scope ............................................................................................................................. 3
Section 3
Outreach and Education .......................................................................................... 4
Section 4 Initiation of Drought Stages .................................................................................... 5
Section 5 Stages of Drought & Measures.......................................................................... 5-7
Section 6 Monitoring and Reporting ...................................................................................... 8
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Bidwell Park Golf Course Drought Response Plan
Section 1 Declaration of Policy and Purpose
Bidwell Park Golf Course provides an exceptional public golf experience at a fair
price. Bidwell Park Golf Course also strives to manage its facility through
continually evaluating and improving sustainable practices. Because of these
combined practices, Bidwell Park Golf Course annually uses about 20% less water
per year.
The purpose of the Drought Response Plan (The Plan) is to forecast and quantify
additional water conservation measures to meet the mandatory reductions set by
our local water districts.
Section 2 Scope
Approximately 100 acres of this golf course property is irrigated turf. Annually,
Bidwell Park Golf Course analyzes and assesses turfed areas for possible
placement/conversion into native conservation areas. These native conservation
areas are set aside where minimal or no inputs are allowed.
There are two sites on property that are supplied water, The Bidwell Park Golf
Course Bar and Grill /Pro Shop and also the Golf Course’s irrigation system.
These systems are supplied water through a single well. The Bidwell Park Bar and
Grill/Pro Shop uses water that has been chlorinated per Butte County Health’s
standards for public consumption and the Golf Course’s irrigation system uses
non-potable water from that same well.
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Section 3 Outreach and Education
Bidwell Park Golf Course strives to be a leader by continually improving water
conservation and efficiencies. As an Empire Golf managed facility we have been
implementing conservation measures since 2013, during the introduction of
Empire Golf management at our facility. Empire Golf is a firm believer in
providing a quality golf experience while also instilling a program that promotes
Best Management Practices at each of its facilities. Some of the topics that are
emphasized by Empire Golf are Water Conservation, Water Quality, Wildlife
Management, Chemical Reduction, Education and Outreach. The Plan designates
self imposed water restrictions by the use of the following;
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Implementing Best Management Practices (BMP)
Turf acreage reduction
Soil management program
Reduced irrigated turf acreage
Irrigating to Evapotranspiration and the use of a % turfgrass type coefficient
Upgrading Irrigation infrastructure (satellite controllers, sprinkler heads,
and nozzles)
Hand watering
Conducting on site water audits
Checking the distribution uniformity of the irrigation system
Improved pumping efficiencies by pump station maintenance and
monitoring
Use of The Plan may be published and adopted for use by other golf courses. We
welcome inquiries from conservation groups, media, and other industries to share
and discuss sustainable environmental management practices. Inquiries should be
sent to Sean Ortega, Golf Course Superintendent, at [email protected]
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Section 4 Initiation of Drought Stages
The California Department of Water Resources Control Board is responsible for
the initiation and termination of drought response stages based on the triggering
criteria set forth in their 2015 Drought Response Plan.
Section 5 Stages of Drought and Bidwell Park Golf Course
Response Measures
Bidwell Park Golf Course continually strives to improve irrigation efficiencies. The
Bidwell Park Course Superintendent utilizes technological and mechanical means
to improve and monitor irrigation efficiencies. Even without a drought condition,
Bidwell Park Golf Course is maintained with the least amount of irrigation water
necessary to strike a balance between providing exceptional course conditions,
plant health, and water conservation.
The following drought response measures are a guide to assist in managing
throughout the various stages of drought during the in-season irrigation months of
April through October. These response measures are not exhaustive and not
exclusive options for managing the drought response plan. Because of the varying
topography, natural precipitation, and availability of irrigation water, Bidwell
Park Golf Course presents these measures as best management practices through
the various stages of drought. There may be instances where more or less
restrictive measures may be implemented.
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Stage 1
Use Reduction Target: 10-20% reduction.
Response Measures:
 Finish in-progress construction projects
 Discontinue projects or practices requiring seed or sod establishment that
are outside of greens, tee, and fairways
 Irrigate to 70-80% evapotranspiration (ET) on greens, tees, fairways, and
60-70% on rough
 Increase hand watering of hot spots on greens
 Raise HOC of rough, fairways, tees, and surrounds as necessary
 Discontinue mowing of stressed turf areas
 Eliminate mowing whenever possible
 Reduce turf acreages by transitioning to native no-mow areas
 No herbicide applications after June 1st
 Reduce rough watering in low traffic and low impact areas
 Equipment & golf cart washing only in rough areas
 Irrigation use recorded daily and reported quarterly
Stage 2
Use Reduction Target: 20-30% reduction
Response Measures:
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All Stage I response measures
Discontinue irrigation of conservation areas; ornamental and landscape
No projects requiring seed or sod establishment
Irrigate to 70-80% ET on greens, tees, fairways, and 40-55% rough
Hand water hot spots on greens, tees, and fairways
Limit Equipment & golf cart washing to once per week
Require carts to only drive down middle of marked lane on fairways or
on cart path only
 Fertilize only on greens, tees, and fairways
 Irrigation use recorded daily and reported monthly
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Stage 3
Use Reduction Target: 40-50% reduction
Response Measures:
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All Stage I and II measures
Shut off all rough areas
Stop mowing rough
Raise fairway HOC to 3/4”
Raise green HOC to .150 or greater
Spot mow only as necessary
Close cart traffic or carts only on paths and dedicated routes marked down
middle of the fairway
Discontinue irrigation on par 3 fairways
Discontinue irrigation of practice areas roughs and nurseries – hand water
practice greens
Discontinue fairway irrigation 100 – 150 yards out from tees on par 4 and 5
Fertilize only on greens, tees, and irrigated portions of fairways
Stage 4
Use Reduction Target: 50-80% reduction
Response Measures:
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All Stage I, II, and III measures
Hand water greens and surrounds
Discontinue irrigation of all fairways and tees
Golf Carts on path only
Fertilize only on greens
Irrigation use recorded and reported daily
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Section 6 Monitoring and Reporting
All reductions will be compared to years 2013 and 2014 water usage. 2015 water
usage will be monitored daily and recorded. This data will give a baseline to
monitor water reductions compared to previous years.
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