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.