For the third year in a row, the Arizona of Department of Water Resources is allotting less water to the Rec Centers for use on the golf courses. After using more than the allotted 5,101.47 acre feet of water in 2002, the RCSC agreed to use 882 acre feet less water over the next six years, starting in 2003. To date, the RCSC have used 582 acre feet less water, leaving a difference of 300 acre feet. That water savings must be spread out over the remainder of this year and 2009.

“To accomplish this, the golf courses will have to cut back on irrigation water by 150 acre feet in 2008 and 150 acre feet in 2009 to complete the savings of 882 acre feet,” said John Snyder, RCSC Director of Golf and Grounds.

Coupled with the limitation on groundwater use is the fact that golf courses have gone more than 80 days without rainfall.

To help stay within the water conservation allotments and offset the lack of rainfall, RCSC will continue several programs put in place last year including aerificiation and administering a wetting agent to the golf courses.