Along with the golf courses , Parks manages seventy-seven sports fields . Best management practices and natural resource protection measures have been integrated into the daily operations throughout the park system . These practices and measures have not changed from prior years .
All of Parks ’ playing fields and golf courses are subject to turf management , including weed and pest control and fertilization . The turf management practices are designed to minimize operational effects on the environment . Golf course management is the same as was submitted in the prior years ’ reports . Tierra Verde Golf Club , a certified Audubon International Signature Sanctuary , continues to be the City ’ s leading facility for integrating environmental standards into the turf management program . Experience gained at this facility is used to develop environmentally friendly practices for other park facilities .
The Fire Department manages all fire station sites . Station personnel apply fertilizers and insecticides for fire ant control and lawn maintenance .
The Environmental Health Department ’ s Vector Control Contractor sprays for mosquitos on an as needed basis for public health reasons ( i . e . positive tests for contractible illness ). Mosquito control is also accomplished through public education , surveillance , and controlling the breeding of mosquitoes on public property through larvicide with B . T . I . briquettes in areas that are known to have concentrations of larva .
Integrated Pest Management
An Integrated Pest Management ( IPM ) program is in place for the City of Arlington golf courses and has been introduced at all parks . IPM is a holistic approach to facility maintenance that focuses on identifying pests and pest activity before they reach critical levels as well as all other aspects of maintenance . IPM does not preclude the use of pesticides , but emphasizes the importance of utilizing adapted plant species , understanding environmental conditions , following recommended cultural practices , monitoring pest populations and using the most effective solutions to combat problems . These solutions , which include cultural , biological , and chemical methods , are designed to balance environmental concerns with plant management . Select golf and park employees are designated as “ scouts ” and are responsible for monitoring and reporting any potential pest activity , recording vital information such as location , weather conditions , changes in turf appearance , and symptoms . Through early detection of pest activity , cultural practices can be implemented as the first means of reducing pest activity and often the need for chemical control is avoided . As part of the management strategy , nest boxes and bat houses have been erected at the golf courses and various parks to entice insect-eating birds and bats to park properties .
While chemicals continue to be used on an as needed basis , park managers developed an approved list of chemicals for the Parks and Recreation Department . The chemical selection was based on environmental impact and cost effectiveness . In addition , Park Operations has adopted a “ just in time ” chemical inventory process . This process ensures that chemicals are purchased in quantities for a single application and eliminates the unnecessary storage of chemicals thus reducing potential risks for accidental spills .
The City ensures compliance with established use of guidelines of pesticides with licensed and trained applicators . These applicators apply appropriate rates and use of pesticides according to labels and comply with regulations governing the legal disposal of used containers . Materials are properly stored under cover and protected from stormwater . Licensed applicators consider the climatological conditions such as wind and rain for proper timing of applications . In addition , preventative maintenance programs are conducted to ensure that spray equipment properly dispenses accurate applications and to reduce the possibility of leakage from
CITY OF ARLINGTON TPDES STORMWATER ANNUAL REPORT – FY 2018
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