Web Exclusive: City could reduce cosmetic grass at Antelope Hills

4/24/2007

By CINDY BARKS
The Daily Courier

PRESCOTT - Green areas may be synonymous with golfing, but city officials have proposed a way to cut down on the grass without affecting the greens.

Currently, the city irrigates nearly 12,000 square feet of lawn around its Antelope Hills Golf Course clubhouse with water from Prescott's potable supply.

That entirely cosmetic amenity soaks up hundreds of thousands of gallons of water each year, say city officials.

But by making a simple landscaping switch from grass to desert plants and rocks, they say, the golf course could set an example by conserving the limited commodity.

This past week, Prescott Administrative Services Director Mic Fenech proposed removing the lawn area around the golf course clubhouse and replacing it with low-water-use landscaping.

The move would save about 1.2 acre-feet of water per year, Fenech said, which translates to about 391,000 gallons.

The bulk of the golf course relies on effluent (treated wastewater) for its irrigation source, but Golf Course Manager Paul Parker said the area around the clubhouse has long relied on a sprinkler irrigation system that taps into the potable supply.

"To keep it green, we have to water pretty much daily" during the four hottest months of summer, Parker said.

While the lawn around the clubhouse entrance is highly visible, it is not a part of the play area for golfers, Parker added.

For that reason, along with the fact that the irrigation was dipping into the potable water supply, the city targeted the lawn area as a high priority for a switch to xeriscaping.

Fenech explained that the city advertised for proposals in March to solicit interest from the landscape industry for licensing various zones around the clubhouse for landscape services. Five companies responded, he said.

In exchange for providing the landscape materials and the labor, the landscape companies would receive signs at the site, identifying and acknowledging their contributions.

Fenech took the issue to the Prescott City Council this past week, and got favorable feedback to the idea. Councilwoman Mary Ann Suttles said the project would allow the city to "practice what it preaches" regarding water conservation.

The council placed the license agreement on its consent agenda for this week's meeting, which is usually a sign that all members will support an action.

If the council does approve the action, Parker expects work to begin soon on the removal of the sod. "It should get started about the second week of May and be done by about the first of June," Parker said.

The discussion about the clubhouse lawn area led to questions about the grass in the remainder of the golf course, when local resident Howard Mechanic asked whether the city was analyzing the playable area to determine if similar change-outs might be possible.

Fenech said city officials have discussed the possibility of bringing xeriscaping to more of the public golf course area. "There are some areas where it would not affect the playability," he said.

Local golfing organizations would have an opportunity to offer feedback on any future plans for changing the landscaping on the course, officials said.

Contact the reporter at cbarks@prescottaz.com.

Source : http://prescottdailycourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=43821&TM=35059.57