The proposed nutrient guidelines will hopefully help to reduce nutrient loading into the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.  I have many friends and family that enjoy both the economic and recreational benefits of the Chesapeake Bay and I hope that it is alive and healthy for future generations to enjoy.  For the most part, the proposed regulations represent what most of us in the turfgrass industry have been doing already.  However, I believe the proposals could use some adjustments.

In section VI on page 95, the recommendation for golf course fairways is 1-3 lbs. of Nitrogen / 1000ft2 per year and the recommendation for golf course roughs is 1 lb. N. / 1000ft per year.  It has been well documented in standard industry publications such as "Turf Management for Golf Courses" by James Beard PhD. and "Turfgrass Soil Fertility and Chemical Problems - Assesment and Management" by Drs. Carrow, Waddington, and Rieke that nitrogen rates for bermudgrass should range anywhere from .25  - 1.5 lbs. Nitrogen / 1000ft2 per growing month.  In the Tidewater region of Virginia, these recommendations would equate to ranges between 1.75 to 10.5 lbs. of annual Nitorgen per 1000ft2.  The proposed regulations only allow for 1 lb. (for roughs) and 3 lbs.(for fairways) per 1000ft2 per year. These authors of the above publications are some of the most experienced and well-respected turfgrass researchers in the country. 

Virginia has very diverse climatic regions.  Some golf courses are growing warm-season turf while others are growing cool-season turf.  Even within the bermudgrass family, there are more than 20 different varieties that require different levels of nutrition to maintian quality turf.  Also, some courses may also be in the "grow-in" phase of development where even more nitrogen may be temporarily required to speed establishment.  The proposed limits on nitrogen application rates are too low and would severely limit our ability to maintain quality playing conditions for our customers. 

Please seek input from organizations such as the Virginia Turfgrass Council, Virginia Golf Course Superintendent's Association, the current turfgrass extension staff at Virginia Tech, as well as other turfgrass practitioners in the state so that we can come to a compromise that will help to both protect the environment and allow turfgrass managers to grow quality turf.