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

2. 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%

3. 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.

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

5. Better Examples of Xeriscaping
Denver, CO
Cherry Hills, Denver

6. Even in a Desert !

7. 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

8. 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

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

10. 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.”

11. 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

12. 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)

13. 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

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

15. 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)

16. Groundwater Depletion

17. The World’s Aquifers

18. 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)

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

20. 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

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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. Lake Dillon ~2007

26. Lake Dillon,

27. Frisco Xeriscaping Examples Whole Foods

28. Community and Senior Center

29. 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

30. 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 

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

32. Thank you!
Any questions?