Xeriscaping What is it, and HOW Does it APPLY to You?

Calling all volunteers! We’re looking for YOUR HELP to look honestly at your water usage and to show you the real value of water Our goal is to raise public awareness about water: where it comes from, how we use it, and the reasons why we need to conserve it Over 50% of residential potable water is applied to landscaping and lawns. Xeriscaping can reduce landscape water use by 50-75%

Definitions - Xeriscaping “A landscaping method… that utilizes water-conserving techniques (such as the use of drought-tolerant plants, mulch, and efficient irrigation) –Webster Origin of xeriscape: xeri(c) + (land)scape Not “zeroscaping” This usually refers to a different type of low-water landscaping that is often devoid, or nearly devoid, of plants.

What You’re Probably Thinking of When You Hear “Xeriscape”…

Better Examples of Xeriscaping Denver, CO Cherry Hills, Denver

Even in a Desert !

Xeriscaping can include lawn areas but seeks to reduce them to areas that will actually be used, rather than using them as a default landscaping plan

Benefits of Xeriscaping Save costs on water usage Mulch and decorative rocks lower particulate dust and air pollution Lessens emissions from lawn mowers which account for 5% of green house gas emissions Reduce or eliminate fertilizers and pesticides running off into our storm water systems Encourages diverse and supportive habitats for bees

Obstacles to Implementing Xeriscaping Cultural attachment to turf grass lawns Lawns have become a universal symbol of prosperity, order and community

Wallace Stegner “You have to get over the color green; you have to quit associating beauty with gardens and lawns, you have to get used to an inhuman scale; you have to understand geological time.”

Facts: Lawns Lawns now cover an area three times larger than any irrigated crop in the U.S., roughly the size of Texas. As the single most irrigated crop by surface area, lawns cover more than 63,000 square miles. Roughly 17 million gallons of lawn mower fuel are spilled per year

Impact of Lawns on Water Conservation Acre-foot: the amount of water needed to cover an acre (a football field) to the depth of one foot, approximately 326,000 gallons. (Data for 2011)

Changing the Water Climate – Lawn Runoff Algae blooms form from chemical runoffs and warm water conditions (aggravated by climate changes) Seafood operations on West Coast shut down in 2015

A Need For Change “Every discussion about water should start with conservation. “ – Governor Hickenlooper

What is the Value of Water? A message from our sponsors Discrepancy in water cost and value of water Water Rate Survey (CA vs. CO)

Groundwater Depletion

The World’s Aquifers

How is Water Measured? 1 cubic foot per second (cfs) = 449 gallons per minute (gpm) Also used in rafting terminology to determine river flow conditions The North Ten Mile Creek yields approximately 10 cfs Acre foot = the amount of water needed to cover an acre (a football field) to the depth of one foot 3.0 ac/ft = 1 million gallons (roughly)

Water Rights What are they? Paper water vs. wet water “First in time, first in right” Drought and stream flow

The Colorado River Serves 11 states 1922- Divided the Colorado into upper and lower basin sections The first allocation of the Colorado was inaccurate for actual stream flow Serves 11 states Lower basin states can put a call on the Colorado The Blue is one of the largest tributaries to the upper Colorado Stresses on the Colorado 1950’s mega-drought

Taking Care of Our Resources Rapid population growth increases unsustainable demand on our water resources

Global Warming and The Colorado River “The future of the Colorado River is far less rosy than other recent assessments have portrayed… Our findings provide a sobering look at future Colorado River flows, and send a clear message to water managers that they need to plan for significantly lower river flows.” -Bradley Udall, senior water and climate scientist/scholar at the Colorado Water Institute, CSU

Where Does Water Go? Diverting rivers to fuel consumption harms local ecosystems and puts a strain on water supply Agriculture Evaporation Colorado electricity comes mostly from coal but many other states in the country use water to power electric plants

So, What About Frisco? The Town of Frisco supplies 1.2 – 1.6 million gallons of water per day Frisco’s 1904 water rights Water plant and operation levels 2000 water plant shut down Where do we get our water? Our unique position at the headwaters Lake Dillon Reservoir

Lake Dillon ~2007

Lake Dillon, 2003

Frisco Xeriscaping Examples Whole Foods

Community and Senior Center

Practical Tips For the Homeowner - Xeriscaping Planting and phasing When to water How to water Find alternative methods to killing “weeds” Switch to a hand mower Utilize public parks for playing on grass

How You Can Use Less Water Reduce faucet use Fix leaky faucets and toilets Consider aerators for faucets and a new shower head Set a timer for showers (can use songs too!) Only run dishwasher and washing machine when full 

Need Ideas? Master Gardener books at Public Works Classes at CSU and other college resources online Scouting out your neighbor’s yard

Thank you! Any questions?