DNR is working with golf courses to track water use efficiency

By Carmelita Nelson, Water Conservation Specialist, Minnesota DNR

Irrigation scheduling… Soil moisture testing… Irrigation sprinkler head maintenance…Stormwater reuse...

These are some of the ways golf courses are improving the efficiency of their irrigation systems.

Beginning in October 2020, golf course irrigators will start reporting the water efficiency measures they are implementing along with the annual amount of water they have used. This web-based “Water Conservation Reporting System” will complement the water use reporting system currently in place.

Minnesota is the first state in the nation to measure water conservation on a statewide basis. For the past three years, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has been working with cities, commercial, industrial and institutional water users to create a web-based system that allows them to report their water conservation and efficiency measures. We now want to partner with golf courses, nurseries and agricultural irrigators in this effort to do the same for them.

Initially, the DNR created a list of irrigation conservation measures from best practices recommended by the Minnesota Golf Course Superintendents Association, the University of Minnesota, and other irrigation guidelines. Irrigation experts and partners then reviewed and refined the questions. The DNR will use the refined list to create a web-based reporting system. A training video will be available to explain how to complete the new Water Conservation Reporting system.

The goal in gathering this data is to measure water conservation actions, track success and encourage efficiency. Ensuring sustainable use of waters, reducing losses and waste of water is everybody’s responsibility. The data will be aggregated, summarized and used in various legislative reports, conference presentations and other outreach with partners.

Golf courses will continue to report their monthly water use totals to the DNR through the existing Minnesota Permitting and Reporting System (MPARS) and pay the annual water use fee. Once this is completed, there will be a link taking water users to the Water Conservation Reporting system.

For additional information please see the DNR water conservation reporting system webpage or contact Carmelita Nelson, DNR water conservation specialist, at 651-259-5034 or carmelita.nelson@state.mn.us.