Blog Posts

April 7, 2017 by NYS BMP ·

While the NYS BMP Committee is hard at work formulating BMPs for pollinator protection on the state’s golf courses, an increasing amount of information is available to help golf course superintendents protect pollinators by minor modifications to management regimes and to enhance habitat to help sustain pollinator populations. Selected publications and websites are briefly described below:

Websites:

• New York State Integrated Pest Management, Cornell University IPM program web page with resources specific to pollinators and related links to additional information.
• Pollinator Network @ Cornell. Listing of pollinator-related publications and information.
• New York State Pollinator Protection PlanNYS DEC publication that includes an overview of the issues related to pollinator species (both managed bees and wild species), guidance for state agencies, and BMPs relevant to superintendents (Appendices C: Landowner/Grower BMPs and D: Pesticide User BMPs).
• Ecoregional pollinator-friendly planting guidesPollinator Partnership web site that provides regional plant guides of native plants, including trees, shrubs, annual and perennials specifically used by pollinators. Also includes a description of the types of nesting sites/materials by pollinator types.
• NYS BMP YouTube Channel. The home of the NYS BMP program videos. Currently featuring a 4-part case study of enhancing pollinator habitat on a golf course on Long Island.
• List of beekeeper organizations in New York State

Publications:

• Best Management Practices for Turf Care and Pollinator Conservation: Fast Facts, published by the North Central IPM Center, this two page publication summarizes the longer version of the Best Management Practices for Turf Care and Pollinator Conservationpublication by the same authors.
• Making Room for Native PollinatorsThis USGA publication provides the basics of pollinator biology useful for pesticide applicators; detailed information on creating foraging habitat and bee nesting habitat and man-made nest sites specifically on golf courses.
• Specialist bees of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Published by the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation and United States Geological Society, this publication lists host plants preferred by northeast bee species.

March 28, 2017 by NYS BMP ·

The NYS BMP project created a case study video series on protecing pollinators at Rockville Links Club in the midst of urbanized Long Island. Watch the video series to see how golf course superintendent Lucas Knutson used opportunities to renovate non-play areas on the course with pollinators in mind and the BMPs he follows to protect them. He has also introduced bee hives in two locations on the course and provides insight into communicating with potential concerns from club members.

A playlist has been created that organizes the four part case study series. An introduction provides an overview of the case study as well as BMPs for pollinators that superintendents can implement to protect both managed bees and native pollinators. Parts 1-3 provide more information on enhancing habitat on the golf course to support pollinator populations as well as experience in communicating these efforts to club members.

March 22, 2017 by NYS BMP ·

Water enters hydrologic systems as precipitation, primarily in the form of rainfall or snowmelt. It is then delivered to surface waters from runoff or infiltrates into the subsurface. The amount of water that infiltrates into the ground versus becoming runoff depends on a number of variables, including the intensity of precipitation or irrigation, soil infiltration capacity, site characteristics, antecedent soil moisture, and season. The following are some of the seasonal changes in runoff versus infiltration potential:

During the winter, soils in New York are likely to be frozen and impermeable to water. Snowmelt, rain, and low evapotranspiration rates in the spring generate wet soil conditions and downward movement of water to groundwater. The potential for runoff is high because the near-saturated or partially frozen soils have low water infiltration capacities.

During the summer, high rates of evaporation and plant water uptake may reduce soil water storage, leaving none to percolate downward. Summer rains only partially recharge the soil profile, and the soil’s moisture holding capacity is typically not exceeded. Except for high-intensity thunderstorms, runoff and erosion potentials are generally low during the summer.

In the late fall, evapotranspiration rates decrease, and groundwater recharge occurs when the moisture-holding capacity of the soil is exceeded. Runoff and erosion potentials also increase during this period. However, in New York, runoff from turf most often occurs from wet soils and not from high rainfall intensity.