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GOVERNMENT watch |
'Super voice on council'
Michael Stachowski and Chava McKeel
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The proactive efforts of superintendents in the state of New Jersey have given the industry a strong voice in the direction of that state’s water policies, including policies that arise during times of drought.
The New Jersey Water Supply Advisory Council was expanded in January 2006 when Assembly Bill 2196 was signed into law. The bill was strongly supported by the Alliance for Water Conservation (AWC), a group of more than 18 green industry associations concerned about future water conservation restrictions and their impact on the turf and landscape business.
Passage of the bill increased the number of members on the Water Supply Advisory Council from seven to 11. Of the four new positions added to the council, one will go to a golf course superintendent and another will be filled by a representative of the nursery/landscape industry or a landscape irrigation contractor.
The AWC has already sent a letter to the governor nominating GCSAA member Michael A. “Mickey” Stachowski, superintendent at the Golf Course of Concordia in Cranbury and GCSA of New Jersey government relations liaison, to serve on the council.
The Water Supply Advisory Council is responsible for advising the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) on the next review of the New Jersey Statewide Water Supply Plan and other related water supply resource issues. Passage of this bill has resulted in an increased opportunity for the state’s golf industry to have input on drought management issues.
“Passage of A.B. 2196 provides a unique opportunity for state officials to actually see and learn how golf course superintendents manage water in the state. They can become more aware of what we can do in times of drought. Being part of the council allows us to highlight the profession and get more exposure and recognition for how we manage precious resources,” explains Stachowski.
Water availability has been an issue in New Jersey ever since the droughts of 1999 and 2002. As a result of the droughts, the GCSA of New Jersey began taking a proactive stance in working with the state’s legislature and the NJDEP to facilitate better water management regulations.
In 1999, the GCSA of New Jersey helped form the AWC, and it has worked tirelessly to gain reasonable restrictions during times of drought. During the drought of 2002, the AWC held numerous meetings with the NJDEP to express concerns about water restrictions. The alliance was able to show regulators that with the use of new technologies and conservation practices, the golf industry was a responsible water user. In doing so, the industry was granted relief from those restrictions.
The AWC created a document, “Long Term Strategies for Improved Water Use Management,” which was presented to the NJDEP for consideration for drought restrictions in the future. This document illustrates how each sector of the green industry can conserve and apply water in times of drought by utilizing new technologies and incorporating best management practices developed by Rutgers University. The document is intended to be used as a blueprint for water management in any future droughts.
The AWC has also developed specific legislation, entitled the Statewide Drought Management Act, which would remove the uncertainty, inconsistencies and confusion associated with future droughts and how watering restrictions are imposed. Currently, this process is dealt with by the NJDEP under the Administrative Orders, which have not been consistent and often change during the drought period — changing 12 times in 2002 alone.
The activities of the AWC provide the green industry the necessary tools to operate and remain profitable during times of drought. The restrictions that AWC has proposed will give golf course superintendents the opportunity to maintain their facilities while conserving water for the State.
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