Landscape Design and Saving Water on Two Sides of the Same Street
There are miles of turf used in landscaping along streets in the Coachella Valley. Sometimes I think I am in Kentucky, or Virginia, or Pennsylvania--anywhere but the desert. Occasionally there is a street where the contrast between what used to be customary (and many of us brought to the valley from the places we used to live a customary idea of beauty) and what is beginning to be recognized not only as suitable, but 'beautiful' as well, stands out in marked contrast. It is as if we have learned to see the beauty around us. And as a result, we promote it. This unnamed street in Rancho Mirage is one such street.
Evidence from the Irvine "ET Controller" Study.
"Residential water demand in California accounts for 54% of total urban water demand and is forcasted to reach 58% by the year 2020 as a result of population growth, especially in the hotter, inland regions of the state." Read the results of the Residential Weather-Based Irrigation Scheduling: Evidence from the Irvine 'ET Controller' Study
here.
What is an acre-foot? You will run across that unit of measure when reading about water usage. Here is a quick
link to the definition.
A proactive force in the Coachella Valley, the Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) offers educational opportunities for landscape contractors. Click
here to find their website and learn more about what you can do by putting a water saving landscape contractor to work for you.
What is a Water Footprint?
There are a lot of conversations on how we as Americans can reduce our carbon footprint. A carbon footprint is, according to the UK Carbon Trust, "the total set of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions caused by an organization, event or product." A water footprint on the other hand is the “virtual” water needed to “grow, raise, or manufacture something.” Thomas M. Kostigen, author of The Green Blue Book: The Simple Water Savings Guide to Everything in Your Life writes about how much hidden water there is in everything we consume. He created an online calculator to help us understand how much water it really takes to brew that cup of coffee you drank this morning as well as many other everyday products.
Click
here to access Kostigen’s water footprint calculator.
CSUSB Palm Desert Campus Presents..."The Environmental Science Education Expo" Search for coachellavalleygreen.com in the Google Search Box for more information.
"Experts look to success at thriving lake in crafting a plan for a troubled sea." The Desert Sun, May 9, 2010. Click
here to view the report.
The Water Conservation page on the Joshua Basin Water District's Home page offers an array of Landscape design templates including Desert Ranch style, Mediterranean, Native Plant & Wildlife, Rock Gardens and even a "Thornless" garden. Check it out
here.
April 30 - May 2! A great way to spend the week-end if you are in the area.
