Group_6 Brookview-Trees_Vegetation Brookview Golf
Course
ESPM 4041W Problem Solving for Environmental Change
Report 6/7 Prepared for:
The City of Golden Valley
Prepared by:
Cole Van Beusekom—Project leader
Carl Blair-Broeker—Team liaison
Samatha Anthonijs
Matthew Kilpo
Paul Odegard
December 10, 2012
Table of Contents
List of Figures...........................................................................................ii
List of Tables............................................................................................ii
Acknowledgments....................................................................................iii
Executive Summary.................................................................................iv
Introduction................................................................................................1
Class Vision Statement........................................................................2
Project Vision Statement.....................................................................2
Project Objectives................................................................................3
Site Description....................................................................................3
Methods.....................................................................................................5
Personal Interviews..............................................................................5
Visual Identification............................................................................5
Literature Review................................................................................6
Findings.....................................................................................................7
Tree Management................................................................................7
Invasive Species...................................................................................8
Turf Maintenance...............................................................................13
Educational Outreach.........................................................................13
Recommendations....................................................................................14
Ash Tree Management.......................................................................14
Invasive Species Management...........................................................18
Turf Management...............................................................................19
Educational Outreach.........................................................................22
Conclusion...............................................................................................24
References................................................................................................24
Appendix A: Golf Course Financial Benefits
Appendix B: TREE-äge Label Information
Appendix C: 10-year Management Plan Calculations
Appendix D: Replacement Tree Values
Appendix E: Mowing Reduction Values
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List of Figures
Figure 1: Brookview Golf Course map......................................................4
Figure 2: Pond map....................................................................................9
Figure 3: Reed canary grass.....................................................................10
Figure 4: Purple loosestrife......................................................................11
Figure 5: Garlic mustard..........................................................................12
Figure 6: Buckthorn.................................................................................12
Figure 7: Example of high-risk area........................................................16
Figure 8: Fescue.......................................................................................20
Figure 9: Educational sign example.........................................................23
List of Tables
Table 1: Invasive species...........................................................................8
Table 2: Costs of recommended Ash Tree Management Plan.................16
Table 3: Replacement tree values............................................................18
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Acknowledgments
This project would not have been possible without the knowledge, time, effort, and
cooperation of all parties involved. We genuinely thank you for this opportunity and
your support in helping us to deliver a more sustainable management plan to
Brookview Golf Course. In particular, we would like to extend special thanks to the
Golden Valley Public Works Department, Brookview Golf Course Staff, and all the
personal interviewees that gave us their time and insight. Your contributions to this
project are indispensable.
We would also like to thank our professors and Nick Bancks for their support and
guidance.
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Executive Summary
This report provides an analysis and recommendations for vegetation and tree
management strategies at Brookview Golf Course, which will establish it as a visible
outreach site for vegetation management in Golden Valley. The analysis highlights
different areas of Brookview Golf Course that can be improved upon to enhance
natural resource preservation, environmentally responsible management, and may
benefit the course’s financial responsibility.
Four areas of improvement have been identified that can advance Brookview Golf
Course’s vegetation and tree management strategy, these include:
•A proactive ash tree management plan
•Invasive species removal
•Turf management
•Educational outreach
Through a proactive ash tree management plan, Brookview Golf Course will be able
to predictably budget the cost of ash removal, treatment, and replacement with the
impending threat of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) in the metropolitan area. This
management plan will help Brookview Golf Course create a healthier, more diverse
urban forest.
The removal of invasive species will reduce the risk of spread to other areas of the
golf course or city. Invasive species removal will help ensure a healthy and natural
ecosystem that will improve water quality and wildlife habitat.
Mowing reductions decrease maintenance cost and resource use, potentially saving
Brookview Golf Course time and money. Replacing highly maintained areas with
natural vegetation provides enhanced aesthetics, wildlife refuge for native species,
and better stormwater management.
The education program will create both a passive, and integrated educational outreach
to the citizens of Golden Valley. The educational program will help residents of
Golden Valley understand change on the golf course and contribute to the
enhancement of natural resource preservation and management at Brookview Golf
Course and the City of Golden Valley.
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Introduction
The City of Golden Valley is a first ring suburb of Minneapolis, MN and is home to
more than 22,000 residents and two major corporations—General Mills and
Honeywell. Residents of Golden Valley take great pride living in a place that
manages to bring together all of the amenities of urban life, and all of the enjoyments
of suburban life. Because of this pride, Golden Valley has a long history of
environmental stewardship and natural resource preservation, which is displayed by
the numerous public parks, nature areas, and open spaces that the city has to offer. In
order to maintain their commitment to being a great place to live, Golden Valley has
developed a Comprehensive Plan that blueprints sustainable and orderly growth for
the city. The most recent revision to this plan was approved in 2008, but has been in
existence since 1959. Prior to the compilation of the most recent Comprehensive
Plan, issued in 2008, a group of citizens gathered to create a vision for the future of
their community and means of achieving that vision. Their ideas were assembled in a
document called Envision Golden Valley, and focused on connecting people,
inspiring care for the community, and improving city infrastructure. These core
elements inspired the goals, policies, and objectives Golden Valley has outlined in
their Comprehensive Plan.
One of the main items highlighted in Golden Valley’s Comprehensive Plan is the
goal to enhance and preserve public spaces such as parks and recreational areas.
Golden Valley realizes how essential these areas are to maintaining high property
values, providing a positive public image of neighborhoods, and bringing people
together. An area of particular focus to Golden Valley is Brookview Golf Course, a
city owned special use facility that has specific importance in the Comprehensive
Plan. One of the city’s objectives in the Comprehensive Plan is to provide a full-
service public golf facility at Brookview Golf Course and to maintain, re-evaluate,
and improve the course to provide an excellent golfing facility for the public. In order
to realize the goals put forth in Golden Valley’s Comprehensive Plan to make
Brookview Golf Course an even better, and more enjoyable public space for golfers
and citizens—vegetation, tree, and water concerns on the course need to be
addressed.
Currently, management at Brookview Golf Course deals with issues related to water
quality, invasive plants, hazardous trees, in addition to traditional golf course
maintenance practices. The invasive species are rapidly taking over several of the
course’s ponds and shores along Bassett Creek, making it more difficult for some of
the more desirable native Minnesota flowers and grasses to grow. Not only does
native Minnesota vegetation help with water quality management, it also gives
Brookview Golf Course an authentic look. The course also has many trees that are at
risk of infestation by the Emerald Ash Borer, which will eventually kill the trees. If
action is not taken when these trees die, they become a risk to property and personal
1
injury. As the tree becomes structurally unstable it may begin to lose branches, limbs,
or may even fall over entirely. The city of Golden Valley aims to make Brookview
Golf Course the gem of the city and a symbol of community pride, sustainable
practices, and proactive management. Many people visit the golf course each year,
thus the City of Golden Valley must minimize safety risks by creating a tree risk
management plan. The city is aware of these problems and has identified areas for
improvement throughout all public parks and spaces.
Finding sustainable solutions for these issues in Brookview also aligns well with the
Comprehensive Plan’s goals to protect, preserve and enhance the city’s natural
resources and efforts to proactively identify and treat infected or diseased trees, with
regard to the many green ash trees scattered throughout the course. Unfortunately,
these issues are not easy ones to solve. There is no magic fix, and finding good long-
lasting solutions requires the collaboration of many people from many different
backgrounds and areas of expertise. Because of this, the City of Golden Valley has
enlisted the help of the University of Minnesota to help meet the goals of their
Comprehensive Plan. Students from diverse backgrounds rooted in environmental
science and recreational resource management have been tasked with developing
these new sustainable vegetation management and tree risk assessment plans. The
City of Golden Valley, Brookview Golf Course, and the students at the University of
Minnesota have worked together in order to identify a more sustainable management
plan for Brookview Golf Course. This plan meets the ideals reflected by many
discussions with city officials and the goals in the city’s Comprehensive plan to
improve Brookview Golf Course and make it a unique golfing experience. The final
management plan focuses on improving the ecological health of the city, decreasing
maintenance costs of the course, making the landscape more enjoyable, and bringing
more people together to enjoy the many things Golden Valley has to offer.
Class Vision Statement
To create a proactive, cohesive, and flexible natural resource plan that supports
community engagement and advances the role of Golden Valley as a leader in
environmental management.
Project Vision Statement
Brookview Golf Course will be the symbol of Golden Valley’s sustainability efforts
and will uniquely integrate educational outreach opportunities with everyday life.
Brookview Golf Course will act as a blueprint, and inspiration for future sustainable
vegetation management projects within Golden Valley, and throughout the Twin
Cities metro area. Brookview Golf Course will be the shining gem of Golden Valley,
a source of community pride, and a symbol of sustainable outreach for the future.
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Project Objectives
In order for Golden Valley to establish Brookview Golf Course as the shining gem
and sustainable outreach platform of the city, they must begin by addressing the
management of vegetative areas. Brookview Golf Course has a number of invasive
species present, specifically along the banks of Bassett Creek and surrounding a
number of ponds. It is understood that financial feasibility is always a concern, so
high priority areas must be identified in order to conduct pilot studies to find what
management strategy works best. Once the high priority areas are identified, best
management practices will be suggested in order to combat the problem in the most
efficient and cost-effective manner. In addition to invasive species management, a
tree vegetation risk management strategy must be completed to proactively plan for
the inevitable migration of the Emerald Ash Borer.
All changes to the golf course must be as transparent and clearly communicated to
the citizens of Golden Valley as possible. Public outreach and collaboration with
community members will be utilized to help educate people why these changes are
necessary and what benefits they can expect.
Site Description
Brookview Golf Course is a 143.5 acre publicly owned golf course situated on the
Bassett Creek floodplain in the city of Golden Valley, MN, a first ring suburb of
Minneapolis. It is located between Olson Memorial Highway (MN Highway 55) to
the north and I-394 to the south. To the west lay General Mills Boulevard and the
General Mills Corporate Headquarters. On the east side is Brookview Park and
residential neighborhoods.
The course has been in existence since 1920 when it was founded as a private golf
course. Forty years later, negotiations with the city began and the city purchased the
golf course as part of a bonding deal worth $1.6 million (Brookview Golf Course,
2012). In 1969 the course was officially turned over to the city, becoming Golden
Valley’s only public golf course. In the 1980s, however, the course experienced
extensive flooding. To address the issue, Brookview began major reconstruction on
trouble areas of the course, but was forced to shut down a couple of years later in
order to re-sod the course after an especially rough winter killed almost all of the
grass on the course. Since then, Brookview Golf Course has been in full operation
every season, and has continued to adapt their management practices to improve
course conditions and become more sustainable. It has also become the gem of the
city of Golden Valley as a place where they can show the community all of their best
management work and serves as a model for the city’s vision for how they want all
parks to look in the future.
3
Figure 1. Brookview Golf Course map.
Brookview Golf Course is unique in that it has many more water features than most
golf courses, thirteen of them to be exact. These ponds act not only as obstacles for
golfers and scenery for them to enjoy, but also serve as stormwater ponds, which
collect and retain water from storm drains along surfaces, such as roads. Stormwater
ponds help to alleviate possible flooding effects from large rain events. Currently
there are some ponds that also have riparian buffer zones, which are areas along the
banks of ponds and rivers where vegetation has higher water tolerance. These planted
areas help to control the flow of water entering from surrounding surfaces, as well as
filtering the water of pollutants more effectively. In the case of Bassett Creek, which
runs through the course, buffer zones help treat the water as it flows downstream. The
service that these ponds and riparian zones provide is especially important at
Brookview Golf Course since it lies in such a low, clay loam designated area. And
like any other golf course, Brookview has many sand traps, well-trimmed and
maintained Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis) fairways and greens, and a large
variety of trees spread throughout the course.
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Methods
Personal Interviews
Personal interviews were conducted to gain insight into the qualitative information
from various topics including invasive species, ash tree management, and proper golf
course management. The personal interviews were conversations carried out via
email, over the phone, and in person. These interviews were conducted in the
presence of multiple group members in order to properly note all of the information.
Laura Galarneau, an alumnus of the University of Minnesota, who is familiar with the
sustainable golf course management plan implemented at Columbia Golf Course in
Northeast Minneapolis was contacted. Through this interview, information about
what they do to manage their course to qualify as a sustainable golf course as well as
the benefits for doing so was attained. Brad Kadue, who serves on the Golden Valley
Parks and Open Spaces Commission and is an active member of the Brookview
Men’s Golf Association was also contacted. In this interview, past and present views
of the management of the golf course were discussed. Eric Mattson, the Landscape
Management Specialist for Prairie Restorations was interviewed to find out the best
choice for replacement of invasive species with native plant species within riparian
zones, maintenance techniques and management timelines for the upkeep of these
vegetative areas. Also contacted was Eric Eckman the Public Works Specialist for
Golden Valley, Tim Teynor and Al Lundstrom, both of whom are urban foresters
with the City of Golden Valley, to determine high priority management areas within
Brookview Golf Course and prioritize techniques for controlling invasive species.
The Superintendent of Brookview Golf Course, Greg Spencer was also interviewed.
He provided information on mowing frequency and specifications of the mowers
Brookview uses. Once this information was obtained, the group focused on these
given areas to implement specific management practices, then tailor these techniques
throughout the course in future years.
Visual Identification
Visual identification is, as the name implies, the identification of various trees,
vegetation, shrubs, and grasses. This data was obtained from knowledgeable
individuals physically surveying the golf course, noting where invasive species are
located, the amount of invasive species at the various locations, and what, if any
maintenance issues are faced regarding the control of identified nuisance vegetation.
Because of its first ring location to downtown Minneapolis, and its setting between
two major traffic corridors, nuisance vegetation, namely invasive species, are more
likely spread to this area from passing vehicles, and due to the isolated areas of
concern, visual identification seems the logical choice. According to the Minnesota
Department of Natural Resources invasive species that are nonnative to Minnesota
are easily spread through mud, hay and water bodies, and can cause both economic
5
and environmental harm, or harm to human health. Prasad et al. (2010) found that
outlier infestations are often located in the vicinity of highways, further emphasizing
human-aided dispersal in long distance spread of EAB.
Site visits to the course were conducted during the fall months of the year when most
vegetation is becoming dormant. Therefore, on September 7, September 9, September
19, and October 4, separate trips to Brookview were made to ensure all species
present were accounted for. On September 7 and 19, while visiting the course, Ben
Disch and Greg Spencer were approached to discuss existing vegetative management
practices of the course. While visiting, the locations of invasive species were mapped,
low traffic areas, and high priority areas. On October 4 species were identified with
assistance from Gary Johnson as well as an invasive species booklet, and locations
marked on our maps. The invasive species identified were purple loosestrife (Lythrum
salicaria), reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea), garlic mustard (Alliaria
petiolata), and buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica). The group also identified an
aggressive willow (Salix spp.) takeover of one of the ponds on Hole 13 that should be
considered in future vegetation management as well as possible pond treatments.
On September 7, surveying of the course started off around the perimeter of the
course, confirming the provided tree inventory, and noting buffer zones (or lack
thereof), around the outside edges that are nearest the traffic corridors, and moved
inward. On the September 19 visit, areas near the Par 3 course were looked at in more
detail and notes of the vegetation areas around some of the smaller ponds where
native vegetation such as cattails (Typha spp.), water lily (Nymphaea spp.) and wild
daisies were noticed.
Near the park section of the complex, vegetation around the stormwater ponds was
noted and the group felt that the layout at these ponds was the vegetation layout that
should be employed throughout the golf course surrounding each feasible pond
location. The group found out that Prairie Restoration was behind this picturesque
scene (although the group had already contacted them for our findings). The final trip
on October 4 included Gary Johnson, who provided additional insight into some
aggressive native plants that should be taken into consideration for future
maintenance and/or eradication and gave the group some things to consider in the
proposal for educating the golfers as they play the course in hopes of a greater
appreciation for improvements made. This information was used to gain background
knowledge into the current state of vegetation on the golf course.
Literature Review
There is much literature that was available to be reviewed and consulted to determine
best management practices for both the invasive species and ash tree populations
found in Brookview Golf Course. In Minnesota, both the Department of Natural
Resources and the US Department of Agriculture have each played a role in defining
6
how to deal with Emerald Ash Borer and invasive species plants. Frameworks from
these agencies have been created to help guide communities in planning. These
resources allowed recommendations to Golden Valley to be consistent with state
standards. This management involved multiple steps including re-inventorying to
provide location, species, size class, and condition rating, analysis and cost
calculations, and updating city ordinances.
The United States Golf Association (USGA) was also utilized for its abundance of
literature and magazine articles pertaining to turf management and naturalized areas.
Case studies and proper management techniques from USGA were used to
recommend a suitable establishment of naturalized areas for Brookview Golf Course.
Audubon International is an organization that focuses on environmental education
and sustainable management of natural resources. They have a specific program
focused on sustainable golf course management. Literature from Audubon
International was used to determine economic feasibility of naturalized areas and
different educational opportunities available for Brookview Golf Course.
Literature from academic journals and articles were also utilized to provide a credible
scientific backing to the recommendations made for Brookview Golf Course.
Literature from Midwestern universities was primarily used in order to match
climates and growing conditions.
Findings
Tree Management
Brookview Golf Course is home to nearly 2,000 individual trees. 569, more than
28%, of the tree population is ash (Fraxinus spp.), making the golf course vulnerable
to the Emerald Ash Borer invasion which has been found in Hennepin County.
Emerald Ash Borer is a highly destructive invasive beetle species first detected in the
United States in 2002 and has since spread rapidly, threatening to kill ash trees
throughout North America. All ash trees, regardless of health, are susceptible to this
invasion. Infested trees start to display canopy die-back once the beetle larva begins
destroying water and nutrient conducting tissues under the tree bark. Within 2 years
of the first observable symptoms, most of the tree canopy will be dead, and within 4
to 5 years, large trees can be completely killed. Adult Emerald Ash Borers can fly at
least one-half mile from the tree they emerge from.
Of the 569 inventoried ash trees, 255 (45%) have been identified to be in “Good”
condition, 243 (43%) are in “Fair” condition, 65 (11%) are in “Poor” condition, and 6
(1%) have been identified as “Dead or Dying”. Each condition rating can be further
broken-down by size class; of the 45% of the total ash tree population rated as in
7
“Good” condition, 73 (29%) are between 1 to 10” diameter at breast height (DBH),
141 (55%) are between 11 to 20” DBH, and 41 (16%) are greater than 21” DBH; of
the 43% of the total ash tree population rated as in “Fair” condition, 101 (42%) are
between 1 to 10” DBH, 80 (33%) are between 11 to 20” DBH, and 62 (26%) are
greater than 21” DBH; and of the 11% of the total ash tree population rated as in
“Poor” condition, 50 (77%) are between 1 to 10” DBH, 5 (8%) are between 11 to 20”
DBH, and 10 (15%) are greater than 21” DBH. Total ash tree population not
including individual trees inventoried “Dead or Dying” by DBH distribution is 224
(39%) trees between 1 to 10” DBH, 226 (40%) trees between 11 to 20” DBH, and
113 (20%) trees greater than 21” DBH.
Invasive Species
Throughout Brookview Golf Course there is an abundance of invasive species
present. These invasive species include reed canary grass, purple loosestrife,
European buckthorn, and garlic mustard. The following map and table represent
where these invasive species were visually identified at Brookview Golf Course.
Table 1: Invasive species.
Water bodies Nearest hole Purple
loosestrife Buckthorn Reed canary
grass
Turf
management
A 1, 2 Not present Not present Not Present No riparian
B 18, 9 Not Present Not Ppresent Not present No riparian
C 9, 10 Eastern edge Not present Not present NA
D 11, Par 3 Not present Not present Not present NA
E 5, 11, 12 Eastern edge Not present North, southwest NA
F 14, 15 Not present Not present North edge North edge
Bassett Creek 3, 4, 6, 7, 15, 16 Not present Between 6, 7 Between 14, 15 NA
Control methods most commonly used are mechanical control, chemical control, and
fire. Mechanical control is very labor intensive, often requiring large numbers of
volunteers, time consuming, and of limited success. Chemical control through
spraying has the added cost of the herbicide itself as well as the labor involved in
application. Controlled burning of infected areas may be the most beneficial for
ecosystem restoration in the long run, but is not recommended in areas where one
species is dominant over others. Diverse plant communities provide food, habitat, and
other resources (such as nesting materials for birds, etc.) and for a greater variety of
species than any single species can have. A combination of these techniques is the
best solution, as even after initial removal, long term control and monitoring may
need to be continued indefinitely (WI DNR, 2012).
8
Figure 2. Pond map
9
Reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea) is a large coarse grass with erect, hairless
stems, usually from 2 to 6 feet tall and of Mediterranean region origin. It closely
resembles orchard grass although its leaves are much wider and the flowers are a
different shape. Residing in wetlands, often being planted for soil erosion control
methods, it should be no surprise that it has taken a hold on several areas within
Brookview, namely along areas of Bassett Creek and around Pond E where the
drainpipe enters the creek. Reproduction from reed canary grass is from seed and
vegetatively creeping roots. Due to the moist conditions on the course, it is a major
threat to natural wetlands because of its hardiness, aggressive nature, and rapid
growth.
Figure 3. Reed canary grass.
Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) is a wetland plant from Europe and Asia that
invades marshes, lakeshores, and wetland areas replacing cattails and other native
wetland plants. The DNR, other agencies, and organizations manage purple
loosestrife because it harms native ecosystems and reduces biodiversity through the
extirpation of native vegetation.
Minnesota statute, (M.S. 84D.02), directed the DNR to coordinate a control program
to curb the growth of purple loosestrife and significant progress has been made
through trial and error using various herbicides, although no one herbicide has
resulted in long lasting reductions of loosestrife when applied to large populations
that have been established for a number of years. Consequently, small areas recently
established and watersheds that have little or no loosestrife present have been given
priority (MN DNR, 2012). Since 1990, the average number of herbicide treated sites
was 150, although that number is decreasing due to introduction of biological control
10
agents (MN DNR, 2012). The purpose of these biological control agents is to reunite
a plant with its natural enemies. To date, many of the release sites are experiencing
exceptional control by the purple loosestrife eating insects.
Figure 4. Purple loosestrife.
Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) is an herbaceous, plant that takes roughly two
years to complete its life cycle. Plants can be easily recognized by a garlic odor that is
present when any part is crushed. Foliage on the first year rosettes is green in color,
often heart shaped, and has 1-6 inch long leaves. While second year plants produce a
1-4 foot-tall flowering stock. Each flower has four white petals in the early spring.
Garlic mustard is an aggressive invader of wooded areas because of its high shade
tolerance which allows it to form dense stands in the understory of canopies. These
stands not only shade out native understory flora, but also produce allelopathic
compounds, which inhibit seed germination of other species. This species is also
mandated under the Minnesota Department of Agriculture as a noxious weed that
under state statute needs to be controlled to prevent the spread, maturation and
dispersion of any part of the vegetative plant (MN DNR, 2012).
European buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) poses a significant threat to the area
located along Bassett Creek. Buckthorn is an invasive species that is mandated under
Minnesota state statute to be managed. Buckthorn is a prolific seeder and can also
regenerate from stump sprouting, making it a difficult species to manage.
11
Figure 5. Garlic mustard.
Figure 6. Buckthorn.
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Turf Maintenance
Natural areas on golf courses have been around since the game of golf was first
invented and has played an integral part of the imagery and challenge of the game.
Natural areas provide golf courses not only with aesthetic pleasure, but also offer
environmental and economic benefits when managed properly. Native grass areas can
serve as wildlife habitats, as well as areas to reduce irrigation, fuel use, mowing, and
pesticide applications. Conserving labor hours and increasing environmental benefits
from the naturalized areas is a win-win situation for many golf courses. Examples of
golf courses that have realized financial benefits from naturalized areas are presented
in Appendix A.
Naturalized areas do not need to be established in large spaces. Target areas should
be nonplay areas that are currently maintained with mowed grass or that are visually
unappealing (USGA, 2006). These areas may be suitable on the boundaries of the
course, the rough between holes, on the edges of ponds, or on sloping hills.
Natural areas on a golf course not only help to reduce maintenance costs, they also
enhance the aesthetics of the game and improve the environmental health. Natural
areas help enhance natural wildlife habitat, as well as improve the water quality of
streams and lakes. The establishment of natural areas provide habitat and cover for
mammals and birds as well as native pollinators. These native pollinators are
sensitive to the ecosystem and may help promote native plant species throughout the
golf course (Nelson, 1997).
Reduced mowing around the edges of ponds and streams has a large effect on water
quality. Riparian buffers not only improve aesthetics, but also serve an essential
function for the ecosystem. Riparian buffers help reduce erosion along stream banks,
provide filtration of nutrients, increase wildlife habitat, and provide thermal
stabilization of waterways (Nelson, 1997). Additionally, riparian buffer zones may
inhibit geese from entering and exiting waterways from fear of natural predators
(Nelson, 1997).
Educational Outreach
From the literature review of how to implement sustainable golf course management
practices, the importance of education was identified as a key element in the success
of the programs; this is because when users are more aware of what is going on and
see how it will benefit their enjoyment of a golf course in the future. Discussions with
Parks and Recreation staff also reinforced adding an educational component to
explain any vegetation management changes. They recommended that signage,
especially about any kind of prairie restoration, should be present. It was mentioned
that often golfers will step on taller grasses in search for golf balls, which could harm
new plants that would be part of restoration efforts. They suggested that educational
13
signs would help to tell golfers to keep off the grass and explain the long term
management goals of the project to them. A personal interview with Brad Kadue, a
member of the Golden Valley Parks and Open Spaces Commission and active
member of the Brookview Men’s Golf Association, yielded the same opinions about
the importance of an educational component of any new management plan.
Recommendations
Ash Tree Management
This protocol for prioritizing tree removal will be especially helpful as Brookview
Golf Course looks to manage over 550 different ash trees. In the coming years, it is
expected that the course will have to deal with outbreaks of emerald ash borer, the
insect that attacks ash trees and kills them within a few years of infestation. Because
of the many ash trees present on the golf course and the close proximity of emerald
ash borer to the city of Golden Valley, it is recommended that a 10-year ash tree
management plan be implemented at Brookview Golf Course. This 10-year time
frame keeps with the 10-year time frame of city planning and the Comprehensive
Plan.
It is recommended that Brookview establish an ash tree management plan. To
accomplish this, qualitative condition ratings are collected by assessments that assign
numerical values to individual trees. Ideally, tree condition ratings are assigned by
using a three-person evaluation team where each member individually, and
independently determines tree conditions that are compared to produce a numerical
value. If individual evaluations differ greatly between team members, discussing the
merits/faults or averaging values can be used.
The evaluation system is based on a scale from 0 to 3, with 0 representing trees that
are dead, 1 representing trees that are in poor condition and should be critical to
management, 2 representing trees that are in fair condition, and 3 representing trees
that have no obvious flaws and are in the best condition. Increments of .25 are used
for gradation (e.g., an individual tree can receive a score of 2.75, but not a score of
2.6 or 2.8). Individual trees are measured on their canopy condition, stem condition,
and diameter at breast height (DBH).
Canopy condition reflects the part of the tree from its first, or lowest set of branches,
to its top. Live crown ratio (LCR), crown symmetry, and crown dieback are all used
to rate individual tree canopy condition. Standards for a good LCR are 60% for
deciduous species and 75% (University of Minnesota Department of Forest
Resources) for coniferous species, and trees meeting these standards would have a 3
in the numeric rating system for LCR. Trees lose points accordingly, and general
rules state a 50% LCR has up to a one-half point deduction, 33% LCR a one point
14
deduction, and 25% LCR up to a two point deduction. Because live crown ratio is an
indication of the tree’s photosynthetic potential, care should be given to this rating.
Completely symmetric or balanced trees would also be rated with a value of 3 with
point deductions coming from asymmetry in tree canopy. Crown dieback is the death
of new growth, or up to two feet of the ends of branches (University of Minnesota
Department of Forest Resources). This can be attributed to a number of factors, but if
the entire crown displays this condition up to one-half point should be deducted. Less
prevalent dieback should lose one-quarter of a point.
Once canopy condition has been rated, the tree stem, or the part of the tree from the
first or lowest set of branches to the ground should be valued. The condition of the
tree bark and the presence of bark decay are used for the stem rating. The bark is
assessed for any girdling or loss or damage to bark from pruning wounds, accidental
damage, vandalization, or weathering. Each individual tree will either contain bark
girdling or other damage, or it will not. Up to three points can be deducted for trees
displaying greater than 50% bark damage, up to two points can be deducted for trees
displaying between 25 to 50% bark damage, and up to a one point deduction for trees
with up to 25% bark damage. Likewise, each individual tree will either display bark
decay, or it will not. Exposed wood on a tree will lead to decay, and any exposed
wood requires the loss of a minimum of one-quarter point with increasing point
deductions for more obvious signs of decay like soft or punky wood.
Finally, individual tree DBHs should be used to determine any chemical treatment
applications. If chemical treatments are going to be administered, they should be
done only on trees with a DBH between 10 to 20 inches.
In addition to assigning each individual tree with a numeric value of between 0 to 3,
the location of the tree on the golf course should be used to prioritize management
objectives. Trees that are located in areas like tee boxes or by portable restrooms that
may have groups or individuals idling should be of a higher priority to management.
These are areas where the likelihood of any tree becoming a liability or hazard to
human safety are the greatest, and trees within any higher risk zones should be
prioritized ahead of trees outside of high risk zones. All individual trees are rated
using the same numeric system, but any trees that are located inside of a high risk
zone should be re-rated more frequently including after any severe weather events
that could influence the rating. All management decisions should affect trees within
high-risk zones, such as areas where falling limbs could cause injury, before affecting
trees outside of those areas.
It is recommended that all ash trees with a DBH less than 10 and greater than 20, or
unhealthy ash trees be proactively removed and replaced, while healthy trees with
DBH between 10 and 20 inches be treated biannually with TREE-äge (emamectin
benzoate) insecticide over the next ten years. See Appendix B for label information
on TREE-äge. The reasoning for this management plan comes from a large base of
scientific data and information from Purdue University Extension, and their Emerald
15
Ash Borer Calculator. Trees with a DBH between 10 and 20 provide a larger amount
of stormwater retention in their root systems than larger and smaller trees (Bernick).
This point is especially important to consider given Brookview Golf Course’s history
of flooding. Removal and replanting of trees with DBH less than 10 also makes more
sense since replacement trees will grow to the DBH of the tree they are replacing
more quickly than larger trees in the 10 to 20 DBH range. It is also more cost
effective to treat trees in the 10 to 20 DBH range than remove them. Table 2 shows
how much this proactive management plan will cost over the next ten years. See
Appendix C for details and assumptions on calculations.
Figure 7. Example of high-risk area.
Table 2: Costs of recommended Ash Tree Management Plan.
Year TREE-äge
injections
0-10" DBH
removal
20"+ DBH
removal
Replacement
trees Total cost/year Total cost
1$27,672$12,000$8,000$9,200$56,872$56,872
2$27,672$12,000$8,000$9,200$56,872$113,744
3$27,672$12,000$8,000$9,200$56,872$170,616
4$27,672$12,000$8,000$9,200$56,872$227,488
5$27,672$12,000$8,000$9,200$56,872$284,360
6$27,672$12,000$8,000$9,200$56,872$341,232
7$27,672$12,000$8,000$9,200$56,872$398,104
8$27,672$12,000$8,000$9,200$56,872$454,976
9$27,672$12,000$8,000$9,200$56,872$511,848
10$27,672$12,000$8,000$9,200$56,872$568,720
16
This yearly cost can easily be compared to the one-time cost of around $447,00 that
would be incurred should proactive management and mitigation of infestation be
ignored. All trees have would have to be removed and replaced over a much shorter
time span to prevent further spread of emerald ash borer and address safety issues
surrounding dead and dying trees. By proactively managing ash trees instead of
reactively managing emerald ash borer infestation, costs for management will remain
more predictable on an annual basis and can be more easily budgeted for. Even
though it costs more in the long run to implement the recommended ash tree
management plan, this plan helps to spread out cost while preserving many trees.
This also helps to reduce loss of canopy cover as opposed to waiting for infestation,
removing trees with decent canopy cover, and replacing them with trees that have
very little canopy cover. Good canopy cover and middle sized trees in the 10-20”
DBH category also help to provide more energy savings than would smaller
replacement trees.
Removal of these trees would also lead to decreased biodiversity since it would mean
that all ash trees are removed from the course. Trees in the 10-20” DBH range, as
mentioned before, also aid in water retention, water treatment, and drainage services
provided by tree root systems. This is of special importance considering Brookview
Golf Course’s susceptibility to drainage problems and flooding. It is also expected
that Golden Valley could spread out the cost of treatment even more as studies have
recently shown that treating every three years instead over every two is nearly just as
effective. This would greatly reduce the cost of the recommended management plan.
Insurance premiums are also likely to decrease once this plan is put into place, adding
extra value to enacting this plan.
By implementing this plan, Brookview Golf Course’s tree populations will better fall
within the 30:20:10 ratio of minimum genetic diversity. This means no single tree
family should make up more than 30% of the total tree population, no single tree
genus should make up more than 20% of the total tree population, and no single tree
species should make up more than 10% of the total tree population. Because forest
pests like Emerald Ash Borer are selective in which trees they attack, having a
diverse tree population that has a variety of species will typically suffer fewer losses
when an outbreak does occur.
Currently Brookview Golf course has more than 20% ash tree cover. By the end of
the ten year management plan the ash trees that remain on the course (those treated
with insecticide) will comprise a little less than 20% of the tree population. To add
more genetic diversity, it is recommended that the following species be selected from
when choosing replacement trees: thornless honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos var.
inermis), river birch (Betula nigra), and basswood (Tilia americana). These trees
were picked due to their contribution to diversity, tolerance to Minnesota’s climate,
and value they add to the golf course, both intrinsically and monetarily. Monetary
benefits from trees come from added property value and and energy savings that
come from shading that help to reduce summer cooling costs and the ability of trees
17
to block wind, which helps to reduce building heat loss. There are also ecological
benefits from replanting trees such as trees’ ability to intercept stormwater runoff,
improve air quality, and capture and store carbon dioxide. These ecological benefits
translate to economic benefits by helping to alleviate stress on stormwater
management system and improved human health from cleaner air. This means that
replacement trees will add value back to the golf course and surrounding community.
The added value of replacement trees over the 10-year management plan can be seen
in Table 3 below and more information on monetary and ecological benefits of
replacement trees, see Appendix D.
Table 3: Replacement tree values.
Honeylocust River Birch Basswood
DBH* Year Benefit Year Benefit Year Benefit
2.0 1$6 1$6 1$6
2.7 2$11 2$10 2$10
3.3 3$15 3$14 3$13
4.0 4$19 4$19 4$16
4.6 5$24 5$23 5$20
5.3 6$31 6$29 6$26
6.0 7$38 7$34 7$31
6.6 8$45 8$40 8$37
7.3 9$52 9$45 9$42
7.9 10$59 10$51 10$48
Total Value after 10 Years$300 $271 $249
Other replacement species could include Kentucky coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioicus),
bicolor “swamp white” oak (Quercus bicolor), hackberry (Celtis occidentalis),
Princeton “American” elm (Ulmus americana), Norway spruce (Picea abies), red
pine (Pinus resinosa), and white pine (Pinus strobus). These trees would also work
for the golf course, but in many cases did not have a good of monetary and ecological
value as honeylocust, river birch, and basswood. Some of these trees are already
present on the course in larger numbers and therefore, would not contribute to
biodiversity as much as other trees.
Invasive Species Management
Control measures for purple loosestrife, (Lythrum salicarea) at Brookview should
focus on chemical treatment of the infected areas using a glyphosate based herbicide
such as Rodeo™ or Dalapon™ (which is friendlier to standing water bodies) as soon
as possible to slow down the aggressive spread to surrounding areas. If native species
are present in the same water body, it is recommended that a pond based chemical
treatment be applied, such as the Open Water Kit, from Lake restoration, this will kill
all vegetative species in the pond, without harming water quality or native fish that
may be present. Control of this species will undoubtedly improve the ability if this
pond in functioning as a stormwater retention pond. Following treatment, the soil
18
should be loosened to incorporate native grass blends, which will increase nutrient
uptake of phosphorous and nitrogen, which would avoid eutrophication of the pond.
When controlling Reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea), burning is not
recommended because of its dense monoculture nature and because of its spreading
nature underground through the presence of bacteria in the root system that burning
does not address. Rodeo™ and Amitrol™ are vegetative herbicides that are very
effective at killing everything they come in contact with. Dalapon™ another specific
vegetative herbicide selectively kills grasses and monocots while leaving broadleaf
plants alone. All three herbicides are licensed for use in aquatic areas. Rodeo™
should only be used in the spring and with extreme care, it should be used only where
there is no standing water. Control measures will increase the ponds ability to
function as a stormwater holding pond as well as nutrient uptake of phosphorous and
nitrogen, stopping eutrophication of ponds.
Management practices for Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) include using any form
of a vegetative herbicide to continue to eradicate the spread of this invasive species.
On one of the visits to the course, it was noted that some chemical spraying had been
done along Bassett Creek. Care should be taken to ensure that native plantings in the
area as well as the water quality itself, is not harmed in any fashion.
When controlling Buckthorn at Brookview, it is suggested that an E-Z Ject Herbicide
System™ be used to control this invasive species. This system is an effective way in
which to manage Buckthorn for permanent removal since it is cost effective and
provides a simple alternative than Buckthorn busts while being more economical.
“Buckthorn busting” events are a risk to overall business processes as they impose on
basic operations and disturb management techniques. These events require several
days of planning to coordinate with volunteers and other official and are also time-
consuming to implement. It is recommended that female trees ( the ones with the
bluish-black berries) and adolescent trees are to be treated and removed first, then the
older mature male trees (the ones without the berries). In doing so, this will prevent
new growth from growing which will in turn reduce the spread of the Buckthorn.
Also, it is recommended that any species of shrub in the Viburnum genus or any
shrub species in the genus Cornus be planted once the Buckthorn has been killed or
removed, further preventing the spread and growth of this invasive species.
Turf Maintenance
Opportunities are available for mowing reductions and creation of naturalized areas at
Brookview Golf Course. This is not only smart from an economical point of view, but
it will also add to the natural beauty and environmental performance of the course.
Mowing reductions are targeted for two specific areas of the course. The first area is
on the north edge of the golf course, which borders Olson Memorial Highway. The
second is around the ponds, which will create a buffer zone that will help leach out
19
pollutants and retain healthy water levels. A reduction in mowing on the north side of
the course can reduce labor hours, irrigation, fuel use, mowing, and fertilizer
application.
Figure 8. Fescue.
The northernmost edge of Brookview Golf Course is currently mowed all the way up
to Olson Memorial Highway, which is a largely unplayed area. This unnecessary
mowing is costing the golf course thousands of dollars each year to maintain. If this
area was converted to a natural area with low-maintenance vegetation, labor could be
diverted elsewhere, and resources for the course may be conserved.
Naturalized areas can be established by transplanting vegetation or through direct
seeding. Although direct seeding is more cost effective, transplanting vegetation
matures faster and is good for highly visible areas (Diboll, 2003). One of the most
important factors for naturalized areas is golfer acceptance. Therefore, the naturalized
areas must be playable and aesthetically pleasing. Native vegetation of Minnesota
that can be transplanted to naturalized areas at Brookview are sideoats grama
(Bouteloua curtipendula) and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum). In a study conducted
for the Environmental Institute on Golf, switchgrass showed an ability to cover a test
plot when planted every 2.2 square feet, whereas sideoats grama did not cover the test
plot sufficiently (Voigt & Tallarico, 2004).
The target area for the naturalized area is bordering Olson Memorial Highway and
General Mills Boulevard, which are two high traffic areas. Ideally, transplanted
vegetation should be placed along the edges so that they will provide a quick
turnaround and will be aesthetically pleasing in the first year of planting. However,
transplanting vegetation is much more cost intensive than direct seeding with an
average installation cost of $1 to $10 per square foot (Diboll, 2003). Transplanting
vegetation along the edges of the golf course would be much too expensive to be
20
feasible for Brookview Golf Course at this time. Additionally, switchgrass at 4 to 6
feet tall and sideoats grama at 3 to 4 feet tall may be too tall for golfer playability
(Voigt & Tallarico, 2004).
Another option for Brookview Golf Course, and one that may be preferable for the
golfers is to proactively manage the naturalized areas through direct seeding.
Multiple studies have indicated that fine fescues are a good option for replacing
Kentucky bluegrass in no-mow areas because of their drought tolerability, high
resistance to weeds, and playability for golfers (Cavanaugh, 2011; Voigt & Tallarico,
2004). A study from the University of Minnesota indicated that the conversion
method most preferable for changing the rough area to no-mow areas is “glyphosate,
then seed treatment” (Cavanaugh, 2011). Glyphosate is an herbicide used to kill
weeds that would compete with the newly planted seeds. This treatment includes
glyphosate being applied at 1.47 oz/1,000 square feet, aerating the area after seven
days and applying fescue seed at 3.5 lbs/1,000 square feet (Cavanaugh, 2011). This
application method established a fescue plot that is thick enough to resist weed
invasion, eliminates Kentucky bluegrass, and creates an aesthetically pleasing
landscape (Cavanaugh, 2011). Of the fescues studied by the University of Minnesota,
the “Minotaur” hard fescue created the most ideal naturalized area (Cavanaugh,
2011).
According to an interview with Greg Spencer, Brookview Golf Course mows their
lawn with 11-foot width mowers that travel at approximately 4 miles per hour
(Spencer, 2012). Calculations from a site map indicate that Brookview Golf Course
has approximately 250,000 square feet on the north and northwest edges of the golf
course that may be potentially converted to naturalized areas. Based on those
calculations, Brookview Golf Course could reduce approximately 33 labor hours per
year, in addition to reducing their fertilizer, irrigation, and fuel use. Approximating
labor costs of $10/hour and fertilizer costs of $70/acre, assuming a fertilizer mix of
20-4-10 (Zontek, 2010), Brookview Golf Course could save more than $1,000/year
by turning the rough area bordering the roads to naturalized areas. This calculation
can be found in Appendix E, but does not include fuel use, reduction in irrigation, or
herbicide application which would create more cost savings per year.
Start up costs are not insignificant if fescue is to be used for the naturalized space.
The preferred ‘Minotaur’ hard fescue seed costs approximately $240 for a 50-pound
bag. While glyphosate herbicide would cost approximately $50 to treat the 250,000
square foot target area. According to calculations and assumptions made in the rate of
application from the University of Minnesota study, the initial start up would be
approximately $4,000. This is equivalent to 1.6 cents per square foot, which is similar
to literature approximations. An article from Grounds Maintenance magazine
approximates that establishing native grasses from seeds without wildflowers, costs 2
to 3 cents per square foot (Diboll, 2003). The most expensive estimation for
establishing native grasses from direct seeding would cost up to $7,500. Over time,
this start-up cost can be supplemented from annual savings. This type of management
21
will also create an aesthetically pleasing, playable, and natural landscape for
Brookview. Although these areas are very low maintenance, they still need to be
mowed twice a year, once in mid-late spring, to remove cool season grass seedheads,
and once in the late summer or early autumn to encourage growth of cool-season
grasses (Voigt, 1999).
Although not as directly economically beneficial, reducing mowing around edges of
ponds can have many secondary benefits to Brookview Golf Course, which may
enhance stormwater management, playing conditions and the golfing experience at
Brookview Golf Course. By increasing the areas of natural grasses around ponds,
buffer zones will be better established to filter out pollutants from fertilizers,
pesticides, and urban runoff. This will directly improve the water quality of the ponds
of Brookview Golf Course, which improves the image and general aesthetics of the
golf course. Additionally, higher vegetation around ponds discourages geese to enter
the ponds for fear of larger predators (Nelson, 1997). A disruption of habitat will not
eradicate the presence of geese on the property, but it may help to reduce the volumes
visiting each year. Areas identified for reduced mowing and increased naturalized
areas include the north edge of pond F and the west side of pond A. These areas have
sufficient rough space available for natural fescues and will not interfere with golfers.
Educational Outreach
In order for these recommendations to reach their full potential, it is also suggested
that an educational outreach program be implemented throughout the course. This
program would primarily serve as an outlet to inform and engage golfers and other
visitors to Brookview Golf Course about the sustainable management practices the
course is trying to implement. This educational component would focus primarily on
ash tree and invasive species management, as well as signage indicating naturalized
areas. The goal of this program would be to help explain what is causing the need for
new vegetation management, why certain changes in vegetation management are
needed and warranted, the benefits of the new vegetation management system, and
what the finished product will look like. The educational program would encompass
both passive and interactive forms of learning engagement. Forms of passive
educational materials would be items such signs in the clubhouse, trifold cards placed
at the tables at the grill about the various projects, and a section of the Brookview
Golf Course newsletter to provide updates on projects. More interactive forms of
education would be placed throughout the golf course.
With regard to ash tree management, this would include things like tagging all of the
ash trees present on the course, including information on emerald ash borer to give
people an idea of how many trees could be lost if nothing is done to mitigate effects
of emerald ash borer. Trees that will be receiving injection treatment could display
information about how the treatment works and why it is being done on certain types
of trees and trees that are slated for removal could contain information about the tree
22
that will be replacing it, including a picture of what the new mature tree will look
like.
For invasive species management, the educational program would be similar to that
for ash trees. Signs displaying information about invasive species would be put in
areas where the plants are densely populated. These signs would explain what an
invasive species is and contain information on the plant such as how it spreads and
the negative effects the plant has to the environment it is in. Areas that are being
restored with native vegetation, as recommended for Ponds E and F, would also have
information on the restoration efforts and pictures of what the restored area will look
like after native plants have become established.
Figure 9. Educational sign example.
The educational portion of the naturalized areas should include signage on the
borders of the naturalized areas requesting that golfers respect the area and stay out.
Signs may read “environmentally sensitive area” or “naturalized area, please keep
off.” Pairing these requests on a sign with an image of what the final product might
look like can be good combination to ensure golfer recognition and cooperation.
Certification also exists for sustainable golf course management through Audubon
International, should Brookview Golf Course wish to do so.
23
Conclusion
As a result of the partnership between the city of Golden Valley and the University of
Minnesota, it was found that the city has many great opportunities to expand on the
ideals embodied in their Comprehensive Plan to make Golden Valley a more
sustainable community. At Brookview Golf Course, many of these opportunities
revolved around identifying better ways of managing vegetation on the course,
especially as it related to ash trees, invasive species, and turf management. It is
recommended that Golden Valley consider the proposed 10-year management plan
for removing, replacing, and treating ash trees due to nearby presence of emerald ash
borer, remove invasive species such as reed canary grass, purple loosestrife, and
buckthorn and plant native mixes of grasses, flowers, and shrubs in their place. It is
also recommended that mowing be reduced along the northern edge of the course and
along ponds, where buffer areas of native vegetation should be planted.
These recommendations will not only help make Brookview Golf Course more
sustainable, but also a more beautiful place to golf and a place to come together as a
community. These recommended vegetation management plans foster numerous
ecological benefits and add business value that will be recognized for many years to
come.
References
Audubon International. Audobon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for
Golf.http://www.auduboninternational.org/acspgolf (accessed 2012).
Arbor Systems. Tree Injection Solutions, E-Z-Ject Herbicide System.
Bernick, S. Best Management Practices for Emerald Ash Borer Insecticide
Management of City Trees.
https://ag.purdue.edu/fnr/Associations/IAA/documents/BernickEAB.pdf
(accessed 2012).
Brookview Golf Course. Brookview’s History.
http://www.brookviewgolf.com/about/history.html (accessed 2012).
Cavanaugh, M., E. Watkins, B. Horgan, and M. Meyer. 2011. Conversion of
Kentucky bluegrassrough to no-mow, low-input grasses. Online. Applied
Turfgrass Science doi:10.1094/ATS-2011-0926-02-RS.
City of Golden Valley. Comprehensive Plan. 2008.
http://www.goldenvalleymn.gov/planning/comprehensiveplan/index.php
(accessed 2012).
City of Golden Valley. Envision Golden Valley.
http://www.goldenvalleymn.gov/envision/guide/PDF/EnvisionReport.pdf
(accessed 2012).
24
Diboll, N. 2003.The right and wrong of native grasses. Grounds Maintenance.
Accessed 27 Nov. 2012. http://www.invasive.org/browse/subinfo.cfm?sub=3005
http://www.lakerestoration.com/p-65-open-water-kit.aspx
Han, J. et al. Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Potential Side Effects of
Systemic Insecticides Used To Control Emerald Ash Borer.
http://extension.entm.purdue.edu/eab/PDF/potentialSideEffectsofEABInsecticides
FAQ.pdf (accessed 2012).
Herms, D. et al. Insecticide Options for Protecting Ash Trees from Emerald Ash
Borer. http://extension.entm.purdue.edu/EAB/PDF/NC-IPM.pdf (accessed 2012).
Mattson, E. (2012, September). Telephone Interview.
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Biological control of purple loosestrife.
2012.
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/aquaticplants/purpleloosestrife/biocontrol.ht
ml (accessed 2012).
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Controlling Purple Loosestrife with
Herbicides. 2012.
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/aquaticplants/purpleloosestrife/control_herb
icides.html (accessed 2012).
Missouri Department of Conservation. 2012. Reed Canary Grass Control.
http://mdc.mo.gov/landwater-care/invasive-species-management/invasive-plant-
management.
NABB. Managing Emerald Ash Borer: Decision Guide.
http://extension.entm.purdue.edu/EAB/PDF/NABB_DecisionGuide.pdf (accessed
2012).
Nelson, M. 1997. Natural areas: establishing natural areas on the golf course. USGA:
Management. United States Golf Association. Accessed 26 Nov. 2012.
New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services. 2010. Purple Loosestrife:
An Exotic Menace.
http://des.nh.gov/organization/commissioner/pip/factsheets/bb/documents/bb-
45.pdf (accessed 2012).
Plant Conservation Alliance. 2009. Purple Loosestrife.
http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/lysa1.htm (acessed 2012).
Purdue University. Emerald Ash Borer Cost Calculator.
http://extension.entm.purdue.edu/treecomputer/index.php?page=input/trc4.php&s
ection=2 (accessed 2012).
Sadof, C. 2011. Evaluating restoration capacity and costs of managing the emerald
ash borer with a web based cost calculator in urban forests. Arboriculture &
Urban Forestry 37(2):74-83.
Sadof, C. EAB Insecticides by Tree Size.
http://extension.entm.purdue.edu/EAB/PDF/EAB_Insecticides_by_Tree_Size.pdf
(accessed 2012).
Spencer, Greg. Phone Interview. 9 Nov. 2012.
University of Minnesota Department of Forest Resources. Emerald Ash Borer Rapid
Response Community Manual. 2012. www.mntreesource.com.
25
USGA. Wildlife Links: Improving Golf's Environmental Game.2006. The Green
Section Record. Web.
Voigt, T. 1999. Managing Midwestern naturalized areas." Golf Course Management
Sept. 1999:59-62. Accessed 13 Nov. 2012.
Voigt, T., and J. Tallarico. 2004. Turf and native grasses for out-of-play areas. Golf
Course Management Mar. 2004:109-13. Web.
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. 2009. Reed Canary Grass
Management Guide: Recommendations for Landowners and Restoration
Professionals. ftp://ftp-
fc.sc.egov.usda.gov/WA/Tech/RCG_management_0509.pdf (accessed 2012).
Zontek, S. J. 2010. Course care: does grass know the cost? USGA: 2010 News
Archive. Accessed 13 Nov. 2012.
http://www.usga.org/NewsSF.aspx?id=2147488611.
26
Appendix A: Golf Course Financial Benefits
Golf Course City State Restoration PropertySize Cost Savings
Birnamwood Golf Course Burnsville MN Natural Areas 7000 sq. ft.220 500/year
Brickyard
Crossing Indianapolis IN Naturalizing Areas 12 acres 0 14000
Carmel Country Club Charlotte NC Natural Grass Areas N/A
5000 start up;
3000/year 7500/year
Chenal
Country Club Little Rock AR Natural Area Additions N/A 0 1000
Fowler's Mill Golf Course Chesterland OH EnhancingWildlifeHabitat 3‐5aces 0 5000‐8000
Holly Hills Country Club Ijamsville MD Naturalized Areas N/A 0 2300/year
Padres Isles Country Club Corpus Christi TX
NativeHabitatRestoration
Project 2 acres 100 2000/year
The
Legacy Springfield TN
CreatingAdditionalNative
Areas 30
acres 5000 10000
Tournament Players Club at
River Highlands Cromwell CT Expanding Native Areas N/A 2000 10000
Tournament Players Club as
Southwind Memphis TN Native Grasses 16 acres 10000 2000‐3000/year
Wade Hampton Golf Club Cashiers NC Naturalized Areas 3/4 acre 1800 4000
Willow Run Golf Course Pewaukee WI Natural Areas 20 acres 0 5000/year
Appendix B: TREE-äge Label Information
Appendix C: 10-year Management Plan
Tree Inventory for Emerald Ash Borer Calculator
Tree DBH 1‐3" 3‐6" 6‐12" 12‐18" 18‐24" 24‐27" 27" +
Number of
Trees 75 75 150 150 40 33 45
Information on tree DBH was obtained from the City of Golden Valley
Treatment Costs: TREE‐äge
DBH colored light green are to receive low rate dosage amounts and DBH colored green are to receive
medium rate dosage (Purdue). These dosage rate recommendations were followed in identifying how
much TREE‐äge needed to be applied per tree. This information was obtained from the TREE‐äge
insecticide label. The amount of product to be applied was then converted to liters in order to obtain a
cost per treatment value. The price of $520 per liter was used and obtained from Arborjet. Cost is on an
annual basis with half of the trees being treated one year and half being treated the other. This creates a
treatment rotation in line with recommended biannual injections. To reflect this, cost/DBH was divided
by two since only half of the cost is incurred per tree per year. Therefore cost each year is half since cost
incurred biannually is incurred annually instead. Labour costs not included since they would already be
accounted for in the city budget for salary of worker that would be performing injections.
DBH Amt. Product
(mL)
Amt. Product
(L) Cost/DBH ($)
Treatment Cost for EAB
Calculator
4‐6" 15 0.015 $3.90 DBH Cost/DBH
7‐9" 20 0.020 $5.20 1‐3" N/A
10‐12" 30 0.030 $7.80 3‐6" $3.90
13‐15" 35 0.035 $9.10 6‐12" $6.50
16‐18" 40 0.040 $10.40 12‐18" $9.75
19‐21" 100 0.100 $26.00 18‐24" $27.95
22‐24" 115 0.115 $29.90 24‐27" $33.80
25‐27" 130 0.130 $33.80 > 27" $37.70
28‐30" 145 0.145 $37.70 Average: $17.09
Cost of Recommended Management Plan
Year TREE‐äge
Injections
0‐10" DBH
Removal
20"+ DBH
Removal
Replacement
Trees
Total
Cost/Year Total Cost
1 $27,672 $12,000 $8,000 $9,200 $56,872 $56,872
2 $27,672 $12,000 $8,000 $9,200 $56,872 $113,744
3 $27,672 $12,000 $8,000 $9,200 $56,872 $170,616
4 $27,672 $12,000 $8,000 $9,200 $56,872 $227,488
5 $27,672 $12,000 $8,000 $9,200 $56,872 $284,360
6 $27,672 $12,000 $8,000 $9,200 $56,872 $341,232
7 $27,672 $12,000 $8,000 $9,200 $56,872 $398,104
8 $27,672 $12,000 $8,000 $9,200 $56,872 $454,976
9 $27,672 $12,000 $8,000 $9,200 $56,872 $511,848
10 $27,672 $12,000 $8,000 $9,200 $56,872 $568,720
Costs for TREE‐äge application were obtained from using Purdue’s EAB Calculator, based on the inputs
above. Costs for tree removal were based on the average removal costs for ash trees in Indiana, which
according to Purdue range from $400‐$1000. The lower value of $400 was used to calculate the cost of
tree removal for ash with a DBH of 0‐10”. The upper value of $1000 was used to calculate the cost of tree
removal for ash with DBH greater than 20”. The number of trees to treat or remove per year is based on
DBH tree information received from Brookview Golf Course. In total there were 300 trees to be removed
in the 0‐10” DBH range and 78 trees to be removed in the greater than 20” DBH range. On average 30
trees with 0‐10” DBH and 8 trees with DBH greater than 20” need to be removed per year. This was used
to obtain the cost for tree removals each year. A replacement tree cost of $200 was used, as
recommended as the average cost to replace and replant a tree by Purdue, and multiplied by 38 (the total
number of trees removed per year). All of these costs were summed in order to obtain the yearly and
total costs of the recommended ash tree management plan. The numbers for removing all trees and
replanting is shown in the table below.
Cost to Remove and Replace All Ash Trees
0‐10 DBH
Removal
10‐20 DBH
Removal
20+ DBH
Removal
Replacement
Trees
Total
Cost/Year Years Total Cost
$12,000 $13,300 $8,000 $11,400 $44,700 10 $447,000
As mentioned in the report, while the above management would saves some money, it also would lead to
less robust canopy cover since trees with greatest potential to shade and block wind for energy concerns
(See Appendix X) would be removed. This would also lead to decreased biodiversity from removal or all
ash and decreased water retention, treatment, and drainage services provided by tree root systems since
the 10‐20” DBH trees have some of the greatest capacity to filter and retain water. This is of special
concern given drainage and flooding problems at Brookview Golf Course.
Appendix D: Replacement Tree Values
DBH*Year Benefit Year Benefit Year Benefit
2.0 1$6 1$6 1$6
2.7 2$11 2$10 2$10
3.3 3$15 3$14 3$13
4.0 4$19 4$19 4$16
4.6 5$24 5$23 5$20
5.3 6$31 6$29 6$26
6.0 7$38 7$34 7$31
6.6 8$45 8$40 8$37
7.3 9$52 9$45 9$42
7.9 10$59 10$51 10$48
$300$271$249
Honeylocust River Birch Basswood
Total
Value after 10 Yrs:
Appendix E: Mowing Reduction ValuesLocationDimensionsArea (ft2
)
Length(ft)
Conversionfactor
Speed ofmower
Number ofpasses
Mowed
per week
Total
(hour/week)
NorthwestEdge1400' x 30'420001400mi/5280 fthr/4 mi320.4North Edgeleft of
Bassett
Creek (1)150' x 250'37500250mi/5280 fthr/4 mi1420.34North Edgeleft of
Bassett
Creek (2)62.5' x 250' 15625250mi/5280 fthr/4 mi620.14North Edgeright ofBassettCreek1000' x 150'1500001000mi/5280 fthr/4 mi1421.322.215 weeksmowing/calendar year33 hours/year