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Golf division reports water savings, plans Echo Mesa irrigation project and grass trial
Summary
Environmental Services staff reported the golf division finished 2024 under its water allotment, outlined an Echo Mesa irrigation and turf project starting April 7, and described a fairway trial of drought-tolerant turf.
Todd Paddy, Environmental Services, told the Sun City West Golf Committee Jan. 9 that the golf division remains under its conservation allotment and outlined planned irrigation work at Echo Mesa and other courses.
“We did end up 39 acre feet under our allotment this year,” Paddy said, citing water management gains despite record heat and modest rainfall. He presented 15 years of water-usage data and noted the division has been under its conservation allotments for 12 consecutive years.
Paddy summarized the Echo Mesa irrigation project timeline: a pump-station installation planned Feb. 11, a public forum on Feb. 14 from 1 to 3 p.m. in the lecture hall, and a project start date of Monday, April 7. He said staff delayed earlier pump-station work to avoid taking a station offline during an unusually hot, dry period.
Paddy also described a turf-conversion trial on the No. 9 fairway using a drought- and traffic-tolerant variety (TifTuf), and said the U.S. Golf Association agronomists will conduct a site visit this year to review maintenance programs and conversion approaches. He recommended a single-fairway trial before wider adoption, noting maintenance and cart-traffic demands vary across Sun City West courses.
Paddy told the committee the Arizona Department of Water Resources' new Fifth Management Plan reduced the division's allotment to 3,863 acre-feet, a cut of about 34 acre-feet from the prior plan; he said the division would still have been under allotment for 2024 with the new limit. He credited irrigation upgrades (Grandview example) and desert landscaping for the continued savings.
Committee members asked about overseeding, recovery at Echo Mesa, and project logistics; Mr. Miller pressed why the trial wouldn't be applied to an entire course if it succeeds. Paddy said full-course conversion carries greater mechanical and playability risks and that staff prefers a phased approach. No formal vote was taken; staff will return with the USGA report and post-project updates.
