During the construction boom of the 1980’s and 90’s Las Vegas, NV was the fastest growing city in the U.S. Good climate, lack of a state income tax, casinos, and excitement made for a great opportunity for developers to capitalize on the influx of people, especially retirees, relocating to Las Vegas. Del Webb’s first retirement community in Las Vegas was Sun City Summerlin. Located at the base of the Spring Mountain range on the upper west side of the city, its higher elevation and somewhat cooler temperatures complement the rugged vistas the mountains provide.

Sun City Summerlin consists of approximately 8,000 homes, numerous community recreation amenities, and 3 golf courses. Palm Valley Golf Club was the first course to open in 1989, with Highland Falls and Eagle Crest Golf Club to follow. Brian Bagwell, Director of Golf Maintenance for the three courses, is responsible for over 460 acres of turf. This presents a big enough challenge on its own, but became more challenging when he started to receive complaints from neighbors on the Eagle Crest course regarding foul odors emanating from his irrigation pond. Brian, and his three Golf Course Superintendents, Eric Alms at Palm Valley, Roger Knight at Highland Falls, and Josh Viroscko at Eagle Crest, knew they had to come up with a solution right away.

Pond construction has come a long way over the past 20 years, unfortunately in 1989 newly constructed ponds were often too shallow and did not include features that we take for granted today, such as aquatic plant, nutrient buffers in litoral shelves, etc. Many residents in Las Vegas were familiar with the daily sounds of dynamite being used to break up rock layers during the construction of the golf courses; while developers were all too familiar with the associated costs. Today’s best management practices to keep nutrients out of our ponds and lakes are now common place, however back in the day if a pond was nearby many maintenance workers were encouraged to toss greens clippings in it to avoid more inconvenient means of disposal.

Not only had Brian and his Superintendents inherited many ponds that were too shallow with few elements to filter out excess nutrients - their job was about to become even more complicated!

To meet the needs of an ever increasing population an additional waste water treatment plant was built on the west side of town. In an effort to conserve precious water resources, it was determined that Summerlin and nine other golf courses on the west side of Las Vegas would convert from potable water use to effluent water use from the newly constructed plant, with the Las Vegas Water Authority providing the distribution of the effluent water to the courses. Incidentally, the cost of water would remain the same! Although the golf course Superintendents affected were aware of the impact effluent would have on their turf and the adjustments that they would have to make to their maintenance practices, many were unaware of the effect that it would have on their ponds and irrigation lakes – bringing us right back to Brian’s odor issue.

When effluent water was introduced to their irrigation lakes, algae blooms have become more common place and “treatment programs for each course was costing $6,000 to $7,000 annually, per golf course, not counting labor”. But it was obviously having no effect on eliminating the hydrogen sulfide (H2S) odors. Brian decided to try a different approach. With the help of Otterbine distribution, the irrigation lake at Eagle Crest was targeted to have two, 2HP High Volume units installed. “Over the next 2 weeks the odors disappeared, the phone quit ringing, and we’ve discontinued our treatment program.” Brian said initially, “the residents were not enthusiastic about the sound of the High Volume units, but now when we have one out for service, some residents have told me they have trouble sleeping without them!”. Brian also knows the value of maintaining his Otterbine products and limiting that downtime, and has Dave Carleton, owner of Pumping Systems of Southern Nevada, service his High Volume units as prescribed by the owner’s manual.

Additionally Brian has also been dealing with the Nevada Department of Environmental Protection (NDEP) out of Carson City, NV with regards to insect control on his properties. Brian credits the aerators with greatly reducing the insect population, and the NDEP “has been very pleased with the results”.

Brian currently has 16 Otterbine High Volume units on his golf courses, and with future plans to add 3 more, “I feel we will have done everything we can do to extend the life of our ponds and lakes, and ensure a positive relationship and experience for our members and neighbors”. We at Otterbine couldn’t agree more, and are proud to play a part in his efforts!