Bear Trace Golf Course Designated 2009 Groundwater Guardian Green Site

Harrison Bay State Park’s Bear Trace Golf Course First Site in State Recognized by Groundwater Foundation

 

HARRISON, Tenn. – The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay State Park was recently designated as a 2009 Groundwater Guardian Green Site as a result of the groundwater-friendly practices implemented at the golf course. The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay is currently the only site in Tennessee with this designation from The Groundwater Foundation. 

 

Groundwater Guardian Green Sites are places with significant green space – such as golf courses, ball fields, educational campuses and office parks – that implement effective groundwater and surface water practices to protect water quality. The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay documented an array of groundwater-friendly practices to earn this exclusive designation. The golf course is actively protecting local water supplies by optimizing fertilizer applications, applying natural organic products when possible and creating vegetative buffer areas around wetlands and shorelines.

 

“I commend Paul Carter and the entire team from Bear Trace at Harrison Bay for their environmental management strategy that continues to produce significant improvements in water conservation, water quality and wildlife habitat,” said Environment and Conservation Commissioner Jim Fyke. “Their innovations and conservation leadership has enabled Harrison Bay to stand out locally, regionally and nationally as a true ‘green’ course.”

 

In an effort to protect surrounding waterways and groundwater supplies, The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay has utilized native plants in their landscaping and converted more than 40 acres of highly maintained turfgrass to a natural state. These decisions have reduced fertilizer and chemical inputs into the environment and also decreased the amount of water required to irrigate these areas.

 

“Since 11 of the 18 holes on our golf course directly touch the Tennessee River, we have always been conscious of our impact on the environment,” said Paul Carter, certified golf course superintendent at Harrison Bay. “Our group is serious about providing a first-class golf experience and protecting local water resources, so we are pleased to be the first site in Tennessee to achieve this Green Site designation from The Groundwater Foundation.”

 

The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay is an 18-hole, championship golf course approximately 30 miles north of Chattanooga located at Harrison Bay State Park. It is regularly honored as a “best place to play” by Golf and Golf Digest. Harrison Bay is certified by Audubon International as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary and the 2009 recipient of the Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award for Excellence in Parks and Recreation. To learn more, visit www.tngolftrail.net/beartrace/harrisonbay.

 

Groundwater Guardian Green Sites is a program administered by The Groundwater Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in Lincoln, Nebraska, with a mission to educate and motivate the public to care about and for groundwater. To learn more, visit www.groundwater.org/gg/greensites.html. 

 

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