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Site Evaluation

The purpose of the Michigan Turfgrass Environmental Stewardship Program is to assist property managers in describing and evaluating potential sources of contamination from their operation through a series of self-assessment exercises. Through these exercises, property owners and managers will be able to gauge their level of pollution protection, clearly indicate their level of compliance with the most common laws and regulations that affect turf operations and establish a plan to further protect and enhance the environment. This program is designed as a self-assessment tool and is intended to be a confidential, internal document used to illustrate areas of excellent environmental performance and areas where additional pollution protection measures are necessary. This is a dynamic program that will be continually updated as additional information is needed or as laws change. New modules are currently being developed to address best management practices for course fertilization and pesticide use.


This module will examine the natural resources on your property and identify aspects of the turf management operation that may have the potential to impact these resources. An evaluation of the current level of protection for groundwater, surface water and soil will be made by examining the location and condition of a number of items on your property including pesticide, fertilizer and fuel storage areas, mixing and loading areas, equipment washing areas, the septic system, well and compost areas.

Exercise One

The objective of this exercise is to create a map of the property, locate important features and potential pollution sources, and indicate their proximity to natural resources. An architectural drawing or existing map can be used or you can draw your own map. If drawing your own map, it is not necessary to be highly precise. The intent is to illustrate important features of the operation and their proximity to natural resources.


With an existing map or one you create, indicate the following items on the map.


Property lines

Fairways

Greens

Tees

Ponds

Lakes

Streams

Wetlands

Clubhouse

Maintenance buildings

Golf cart storage areas

Other buildings (outdoor equipment storage areas etc.)

Fuel Storage Tanks

Septic fields

Pesticide storage

Fertilizer storage

No-mow or Low-mow buffer areas, Native plantings

No-pesticide or no-fertilizer application buffer areas

Equipment wash station

Grass clipping piles, tree leaf piles

Compost areas

Soil piles

Site dumps

Wells – Identify drinking water wells, irrigation wells, oil/gas wells, abandoned wells etc.

Major storm water flow patterns - Using arrows indicate the major storm water flow patterns on the property from parking lots or slopes. Also indicate storm water flows onto your property from outside sources and indicate where storm water leaves your property.


Do you have any floor drains that discharge to the ground?


Do you have any rare, endangered or protected plant or animal species on your property?


If yes, please list plant or animal species 


Are you a member of the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary System?

Exercise Two


Please review the items listed below and approximate the acerage associated with the ones that reside on your property.


Total Annual Property Managed

Putting Greens and Tee Boxes

Fairways

Roughs

Other Maintained Turf Areas Lawn Areas, Clubhouse, Condos/Housing etc.

Wetlands

Forested Areas

Ponds or Lakes within Property

Other (paved parking areas etc.)

Lineal Feet of Stream

Lineal Feet of River

Lineal Feet of Drainage Ditch

Lineal Feet of Lake Frontage (Lake not enclosed on property)


Number of Wells - Indicate total number (Irrigation, potable water supply, abandoned, oil/gas, other) 


Well # / ID

Well Type (average gpm)

Diameter

Depth

Pumping Rate


Do you withdraw water from a stream or river to irrigate your property?

Do you withdraw water from a lake to irrigate your property?

Site Evaluation

Select your risk level based on the distance of separation from any stream, wellhead, lake or pond, wetland or property line.


Risk Rankings

Over 100’ away with protection - Low

Over 100’ away with no protection - Medium

Within 100’ with protection - High

Within 100’ with no protection - Very High


Pesticide Storage Area

Fertilizer Storage Area

Mixing and Loading Area

Equipment Wash Area

Compost Piles

Site Dump

Soil Pile

Fuel Storage

Septic System

Other Potential Threat


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316 GLENCARIN DR. NE
ROCKFORD, MI 49341
(616) 834-0450