Watching the flow

With the cooler weather this week, stream flows have dropped. Currently, Vail Mountain has close to 30 inches of snow water equivalent still sitting up top. The average this time of year since 1979 is close to 20 inches. We are just hoping it takes its time melting off.
Streams and rivers are measured in cubic feet per second. All bodies of moving water vary in size and flow. CFS readings are different for each body of water, for example, when the Gore is running at 1000 cfs, that is considered high. However, downstream in the Eagle River, 1000 cfs is a much calmer flow because the river is larger and can handle more water.
The USGS has a few detailed web pages on how rivers and streams are measured. It is an interesting process that interpretes data for all creek managers and those who use the creek for recreation.
This week the Gore almost reached 270 cfs and we noticed a rafting company taking a trial run. Unfortunately they did not make it too far. Today we are at 176 cfs and when the sun comes out, plan on that number jumping up significantly.
When the Gore reaches 350 cfs you will certainly start to notice more activity on the Gore. Mountainbuzz.com is a good website for kayakers and the local gauge from the USGS.

USGA Green Section Report

Derf Soller is a Northwest Agronomist for the USGA. Formerly the Superintendent at Breckenridge Golf Club, Derf is quite familiar with mountain golf course maintenance. He has been on the prowl checking out courses as they emerge from the white stuff. Click here to read his latest update on courses that have been affected by the amount of snow this winter and critical tips on preparing the course for the summer.
Vail Golf Club has been able to aerify greens already, however aerifying tees and spiking fairways remain. We are looking forward to drier weather to accomplish these practices. We will most likely have to balance play and cultural practices.

Assistant's View: The New Kid

It has been nearly a month since I have started my new position as an assistant superintendent to Mr. Steve Sarro at Vail Golf Club. Moving from Iowa in April, I was told that I would have two springs this year but had no idea that I would be watching snow fall towards the end of May. I think it is pretty cool but I am as excited to get this season in “full swing” as everyone else.


A few things I have experienced here include: training new staff, clearing greens of snow, sand bagging the Gore Creek, and how quickly the weather changes in a moment’s notice. Having most of my work experience in the Midwest, mountain golf course maintenance will be a new concept I am excited to learn. I am interested in the different types of plants and animals, climatic changes, agronomic principles, and the lack of turf pests and disease pressures.

So far, everyone I have met that works for Vail Recreation District (VRD) is very nice, supportive and up-holds a team player attitude. The VRD provides an excellent working environment and I look forward to becoming more involved in all aspects of the organization.

Hope to see you on the course soon,

Andy Unrau

Questions

As a golf course superintendent I am used to questions. They come in every shape and form and from everyone, I mean everyone. Some questions are good, others not so much, but I deal with them. A large part of my job is education, I get it, you want to play and I need you to play, so I am glad to help whenever I can.

So what is going on out there?

Good Question! Lots actually. Let me preface this by saying that all of these projects are way overdue and are products of deferred maintenance. We are not only correcting safety issues on all of these projects and but we are setting a new standard for Vail Golf Club.

So let's start with the bridges. The bridges themselves are pretty close to being done. Some final tests need approval before allowing vehicular traffic. However getting on to them is another story. We are in high demand for dry weather for finish work and tying in the cart paths to the bridges. A few spots remain wet and soggy and the short term forecast is not looking favorable for workable conditions. Since you can't shape mud, we are making efforts to turn the soil to dry it out as much as possible. Let's touch base next week for more information.

To no surprise there is nothing easy with the 7th tee project. Squeezed in between homes and the Gore Creek, managing a large hill side for a patch of grass has been a challenge from the beginning. Engineered walls like no other on the property take a little time to have completed correctly. Here you see Ground Engineering performing a compaction test on the soil. Passing these tests are a must to build walls so we are not back here in a few years replacing them again. The weather has certainly set us back a bit. New moisture will prevent us from setting in stones for new walls. We have been working closely with Landscapes Unlimited to get these done as quick and as safe as possible. Now that we are making some good progress on these walls, I will begin to post more about them.
We also have finishing touches on a new lightning shelter near the 11th green, new cart path to replace on 11, a new potential net going up at the 5th tee, plenty of clean up and of course more sand bagging on the course.

When will these areas be open for play?

Bad Question! Time lines on all of these areas depend on weather right now and we are doing everything possible to speed up the process. We will however have some golf available real soon. Keep it here, our facebook page and http://www.vailgolfclub.net/ for the latest on course openings. Get busy with the sun dance!

Preparations

 

Each spring, before the golf season begins, we prepare the greens for a grueling summer of more than 24,000 rounds of golf and all of the other environmental stresses of a golf season. If you have been paying any attention to this blog, you know how much thatch in the putting greens can be a problem. During the shoulder seasons we take advantage of the down time to get aggressive on removing thatch.
A few years ago I purchased some scarifying reels. They are deep vertical blades that help remove some of that organic matter in the soil profile. It is less invasive than pulling aerification cores and is easier with less labor to accomplish. In no way does scarifying replace core aerification, but it helps.
After pulling out some material, we run the aerifiers out on all the greens with solid tines to spike and vent the greens. Every 2 inches there is a 5/8" hole that allows the soil the breathe from a long cold hard winter.
We finally add sand topdressing and drag them into the holes. The sand has multiple benefits such as diluting thatch, creating a firmer surface, smoothing out the surface, helping ball marks and promoting growth. Once a part of the soil profile, the sand eases compaction rates from traffic, allows for better air, water and nutrient movement.
The recent weather has slowed us down with accomplishing all of these tasks, but we hope to finish this all be the end of the week. Keep your fingers crossed.

River Restoration

 As a member of the Eagle River Watershed Council I make a point to volunteer for many of their projects each year. More importantly I learn something new each time and meet some great people in this valley.


Yesterday a team of seven planted willow cuttings along the Eagle River in Edwards. Over the past couple of years, The Council has taken the lead with numerous sponsors and donors to restore eroded banks of the Eagle River.

Improvements include restoring river banks, creating boat ramps, assisting with the speed of flows in the creek and overall providing a better habitat for fish and riparian wildlife.

The banks in this area looked more like cliffs and the creek was getting wider from erosion. That type of destruction does not allow plants to thrive or create healthy waters for fish and boating. Plants help stabilize banks, shades water to prevent temperatures from getting to high and can also provide food and shelter for riparian critters.

Today, Thanks to B&B Excavating the banks are graded out and seeded. The Watershed Council has gathered willow cuttings and over the past few weeks have been propagating them into the river bank. Thousands of cuttings have been planted. Willows are excellent species for creek banks, they are very hardy plants that thrive on wet soils. The success rate of all these cuttings is about 70%.

The project is nearing completion. You can get a better look at everything that has been done or yet to be done in Edwards this coming week. Visit http://www.erwc.org/ to sign up for out River Float this Friday afternoon. River guides are from the US Women's and Men's White Water Rafting Teams!

As we develop our river restoration plan on the Gore through Vail Golf Club, I see us doing some of the same practices. It is a cheap and very effective way of restoring a natural habitat.

Pouring Concrete

As I mentioned in the previous post, today was a productive day. Concrete was finally poured onto the new bridges on #11 and #17.

It will take a few days for the concrete to cure and be ready to access. This week we will be organizing cart path work to be completed to tie in the new bridges to the existing cart paths.

Before the end of the day, the concrete crew was putting on the finishing touches.

Springtime Rituals

Springtime. The Masters, the crack of the bat, freshly cut grass, mint juleps and sand bagging. Today was a very productive day. Many projects on hand which included sand bagging along some older bridges, moving around some greens covers and plenty of clean up. The greens covers are to help increase soil temperatures and promote growth. The greens covered are 1,5,8,10,12 and 15. They are being covered for various issues such as shade, snow mold recovery or colder micro climates.
Sand bagging will continue in a few areas along the creek to prevent further scour.

Seve Ballesteros dies at age 54

Seve Ballesteros dies at age 54 - Golf News - Golf News & Articles | Golf Channel

Rest in Peace and thanks for the memories.

Sand Bags for Snow

It is sand bag season. After the winter we just had they will be used in various areas of the course.
The sand bags will be used to help protect older bridges, greens and player access. The Gore Creek can only handle so much and proved last year that it needs the golf course to take on supplemental water. This is another reason why golf courses benefit our local environments.
It is best for those in Vail (or any flood prone area)for the golf course to take on more water than risking further damage at other properties.

I have been asked what are the potential damages of flooding on the golf course. The turf can typically handle a few days submerged under water. Probably after week at this elevation the grass starts thinking of checking out. Fortunately most areas would dry out to a degree throughout the day when the creek would lower. However the most damaging parts of flooding are the silts and fines that are carried with these waters. They can plug up pores spaces in the soil that provide plants with oxygen. Silts and fines are difficult to clean and usually have to be washed and removed from the surface. Extreme amounts will require significant aerification and topdressing to help dilute the silt.
I have recently been viewing SNOTEL (USDA's division of Natural Resources Conservation Service) to forecast runoffs and snow depths in the areas.
Here are today's numbers in comparison of last year.
2011 holds about 10 more inches of snow water equivalent than 2010; 2011 has about 8 more inches of precipitation accumulation to date from last year; The average temperature is slightly higher this year (but this fluctuates the most). The snow depth is the largest difference and currently Vail Mountain has 22 more inches sitting on it than last year. Most of the mountain is still skiable.
All in all we could have all the sand bags in the county and we will not be able to keep up with this amount of moisture. The water table throughout the course gets so high that it will find a way to the surface. Unfortunately those surfaces tend to be around the 1st hole and the front nine. Overall, the back nine should be OK. But don't be surprised if the starter building is an island at some point this year.

Flow Fill

Culvert repairs continued yesterday as we had flow fill installed. This slow form of concrete will help stabilize the eroding bank. It also keeps the pipe and the rock wall in place at the gate. We'll allow this to set for about a week and then bring in fill to to allow for plantings.

The next step in irrigation technologies

Rain Bird has finally released a product to match up against their main competitor. Toro has had a lot of success with their soil sensors over the past few years and I know a few superintendents that really like them. Buried anywhere you irrigate on the golf course you can monitor soil moisture, temperature and salinity. Vail Golf Club is not the easiest site for wireless technology (see AT&T). But the research and comparisons will begin! The nice option with the new Rain Bird ISS is that it can "speak" with the Rain Bird Central Control System. There is a neat little video with the link that describes the "nuts and bolts" of the product.

Rain Bird ISS Integrated Sensor System

Culvert Repairs

Over the past couple of seasons, the pond behind the first green has degraded in many ways. Currently we are researching ways to make improvements to the pond, but we are attacking the bigger issues before heavy run-off. There is a 24" culvert that transfers water underneath Vail Valley Dr. to the ponds on the 2nd & 8th holes. Last year with the flooding, the pipe was damaged and we are now making some much needed improvements.

Thanks to some help from the TOV Public Works department, we are in the process of repairing the culvert and restoring the bank. Water and silt management is a challenge; sand bags, heavy machinery and trash pumps are used to keep the area dry and exposed. The damaged pipe is removed and a new extension is added.

Finally the slide gate was attached to adjust the flow of water through the ponds. Today we are adding rock and flow fill to seal the area. Once completed, we will begin to back fill and commence bank stabilization efforts. Planting grass and willow shrubs will help with maintaining the bank, prevent further erosion, possible undercutting of the road and improve water quality by filtering road waste and preventing contaminants into the ponds.

Highway Clean Up

Twelfth Annual Community Pride Highway Cleanup

Presented by Vail Resorts Echo

■Saturday, May 7th, 2011, from 9 AM- 12 PM
■Volunteer Thank You BBQ will be at the Broken Arrow at the base of Arrowhead Mountain
■Largest highway clean up in Colorado with over 121 miles cleaned
■Over 650 people volunteer
■Don't forget to attend the great, free, Volunteer Thank You BBQ
*** To sign up or take part in any Watershed Council Events call 970-827-5406 or visit http://www.erwc.org/***

The Eagle River Watershed Council and Vail Resorts Echo will host the 12th Annual Community Pride Highway Clean Up on Saturday, May 7, 2011 from 9:00 a.m. to noon.

Volunteers are needed to remove trash in teams from the 121 miles of the valley’s main roads. In 2010, nearly 800 individuals collected more than 44,000 pounds of waste.

“There is a strong sense of camaraderie and accomplishment when everyone sees those orange bags along the road,” said Joe Macy, ERWC Board Emeritus. “It sounds corny, but it’s fun to be part of something so big and so badly needed.”

Volunteers will bag trash from 9:00 a.m. to noon, and join an after-party hosted by Vail Resorts Echo and the Arrowhead Alpine Club at Broken Arrow Restaurant. The after-party will include live music, beer and BBQ.

Volunteers are needed to assemble or join teams from Vail Pass and Red Cliff to Dotsero. Teams can request an assignment in a general area, but many teams “own” their section of the highway, having cleaned it for ten or more years. To receive a section of a highway, team leaders must sign up in advance.

“Volunteer teams are the heart of our success,” explains Sue Mott, the event’s volunteer coordinator. “They enlist friends, family and co-workers for their groups.”

The Community Pride Highway Clean Up is supported by presenting sponsor Vail Resorts Echo, as well as the El Pomar Foundation, The Eagle River Foundation, Slifer, Smith & Frampton, FirstBank, Loaded Joe’s Coffeehouse, Moe’s Original BBQ, Vail Rotary, Vail Honeywagon, Waste Management, CDOT, Eagle County, the towns of Vail, Eagle and Gypsum and our local media partners, the Vail Daily, TV 8, KZYR and NRC Broadcasting.

Assistant's View: Bringing on Staff

It’s the first of the May and I have returned from Moab with more snow on the ground then when I left! After some great mountain biking and camping I’m ready to get the season started. The staff is hired and ready to work. Over the past month or two I’ve spent a fair amount of time going over applications and interviewing possible employees. Unfortunately, we only have three returning employees from the past season so I had many positions to fill. The new hires range from long time Vail residents to first year newbies to the valley looking to see how amazing this area can be in the summer. Our new and returning employees will start on Monday morning with training and retraining and getting acquainted with the shop. It’s our goal to create a team atmosphere and have everyone cross trained on several pieces of equipment. This all starts on the first day. We’ll spend some time getting to know one another. We will also go over every job assignment and piece of equipment in the shop. With the weather being uncooperative there will be plenty of time for in shop training. Looking ahead to later in the week the weather starts to look better and should be able to begin clean up after the long winter.

Justin Gompf
Assistant Superintendent