Fate of Golf Course Turfgrass Chemicals in a Riparian Zone

S. J. Klaine, R. B. Benjamin, R.B. Naddy, R. Casey, C. Wilson, d. Shupak

The Department of Environmental Toxicology and

The Institute of Wildlife and Environmental Toxicology

During the past year two rainfall runoff sampling stations were established at Cheraw State Park golf course in South Carolina. These stations were established in cooperation with the South Carolina US Geological Survey and were situated above and below a 1000 meter riparian zone that drained runoff from the green and fairway of a single hole on the golf course. The purpose of this research project was to characterize the ability of the riparian zone to assimilate golf course chemicals under natural runoff scenarios as well as in irrigation events.

At each station, automatic samplers were flow-activated and collect samples every five minutes during a storm event. Instantaneous flow measurements were recorded and data up linked via satellite the USGS headquarters in Columbia, SC. Personnel arrived at Cheraw State Park within three hours of a storm event, collected the samples and sent them to our laboratory at Clemson for chemical analysis. To date, several rainfall events have been collected at each sation and samples analyzed for nutrients.

Results indicate significant reductions of nutrients after the runoff had passed through the riparian zone (Figure 1 and 2). Note that no nitrogen or phosphorus left the riparian zone during this storm event (Figure 2). In addition, the riparian zone significantly reduced the height of the hydro graph indicating that the hydraulic energy associated with the runoff even had been dissipated (Figure 3).

During the next year we will collect several additional storm event as well as design planned applications followed by intensive irrigation events. Tracer studies will also be planned and conducted in order to better characterize the hydrology of the system.