Dr. Dotty Woodson Extension Program Specialist. Biological and Agricultural Engineering Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Dallas, TX

Transcription

1 Landscape Water Conservation Dr. Dotty Woodson Extension Program Specialist Water Resources Biological and Agricultural Engineering Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Dallas, TX

2 ISSUES Water Quality Contamination/pollution due to runoff Water Conservation Is there enough? Surface water Ground water Can conservation make a difference?

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4 Landscape Water Conservation What does a water conserving landscape look like? Plant Selection Water Conservation o Landscape Practices

5 Is this What You Think?

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7 Better???

8 Better???

9 BETTER???

10 GOT WATER? Population and Growth Extended Drought not enough water going back into system Older Lakes Filling with Sediment Lake Travis 2010, 2011

11 Development Impacts on the Water Cycle 40% 30% 10% 50% 55% 15%

12 Development Impacts on Water Quality Increased Quantity Decreased Quality Greater Speed Fertilizer Pesticides Sediments Pet Waste Toxic Contaminants Debris Thermal Stress

13 Stormwater goes untreated into the nearest creek

14 Water Cycle

15 Growth and Water

16 Texas Water Use Groundwater Surface Water

17 Eagle Mountain Lake

18 Lake Arlington

19 DFW Metroplex Lakes 17. North Lake19. Squaw Creek 21. Weatherford 18. Joe Pool 20. Waxahachie 22. White Rock 1. Arlington 2. Bachman 3. Bradwell 4. Benbrook 5. Bridgeport 6. Cedar Creek 7. Cleburne 8. Eagle Mountain 9. Granbury 10. Grapevine 11. Ray Hubbard 12. Lavon 13. Ray Roberts 14.Lewisville 15. Mineral Wells 16. Mountain Creek

20 North Central Texas Currently: 1.7 million Acre-feet of water is now available to North Texas Future Projection: 3.3 million acre-feet of water North Texas required in 2060 SOURCE: Texas Water Development Board

21 Environmental Impact Americans spend more than three billion hours per year using lawn and garden equipment, most of it gas-powered, to maintain those lawns, the EPA says, y, Lawn equipment burns up about 720 million gallons of gas a year. 70 to 75 Billion dollars on landscape services

22 A gas-powered push mower emits as much pollution in an hour as 11 cars, and a riding mower emits as much as 34 cars, according to the EPA. Americans also spill some four million gallons of fuel each year, mostly gasoline, just refueling their lawn equipment, the agency says.

23 30 Million Acres Some 85 million U.S. households have a landscape Average size landscape is about one-fifth of an acre 30 million acres of grass, according to EPA and NASA

24 850 Billion Gallons of Water The typical landscaped yard soaks up more than 10,000 gallons of water a year, not including rainwater and snowmelt, the EPA says. 10,000 x 85 million = 850 billion gallons of water annually

25 Conservation is the easiest and least expensive method to make our water rsources sustainable. In 5 years 2/3 of the states t will be short of water even in non-drought conditions Texans use between 8 and 9 billion gallons of groundwater per day. The aquifers are recharged at a rate of 4 to 5 billion gallons per day. Water Utilities use the greatest amount of energy compared to other city departments.

26 Can Landscape Water Conservation Make a Difference? YES In 2006 with only one restriction in place water only after 6:00 pm and before 10:00 am 15% water saved Source: Tarrant Regional Water District

27 Landscape Water Conservation Texas SmartScape Earth Kind Xeriscape Waterwise Yard Smart Water Smart

28 Basic Principles Planning and Design Soil Analysis and Preparation Plant Selection Practical Turf Areas/Management Irrigation Efficiency Mulch Pest Control Rainwater Harvesting Rain Gardens

29 Planning and Design Red Oak Live Oak Redbud d Crape Myrtle Texas Sage Carissa Holly Nandina Gulf Mulhy Salvia greggii Lantana Turk s cap Mealy Blue Sage Belinda s Dream Rose Knock Out Rose

30 Soil Preparation Clear Vegetation Compost Expanded Shale Agrosoke Mulch

31 Soil Preparation

32 Plant Selection Native and Adapted d Plants

33 Native and Adapted Plants Thrive Use less water Less pest problems Source: Texas A&M University

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35 Texas SmartScape

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38 Butterfly Bush

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40 Urban

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43 Zone Landscape by Water Requirements High water requiring area Medium Low

44 Appropriate Turf Areas 1/3 Turf 1/3 to 2/3 Plantings Beds 1/3 permeable Hardscape

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48 Efficient Irrigation Residential and commercial landscapes use more than 25 percent of the total water consumption in urban areas of Texas. Water usage increases 25 to 60% during the summer. Rain and Freeze Sensors

49 Efficient Irrigation How Often How Long When

50 Irrigation BMPs Water only when required Only judge water requirements in the morning Water deeply pyto promote deep and healthy roots One inch of water will generally penetrate the soil to a depth of six inches (soak and cycle) Water slowly for better absorption. Use drip or soaker hoses wherever possible Never water on windy days Water after 6:00 pm and before 10:00 am to reduce wasteful evaporation Maintain a 2 to 4 inch mulch layer in planted areas Water newly planted flowers, shrubs and trees individually Water without creating runoff Check irrigation system monthly

51 Efficient Irrigation

52 Even Distribution of Water

53 Irrigation Audit Check every sprinkler head Make any repairs Run system with catchment t cans Correct any poor distribution Time how long each station needs to run Set controller

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55 New Irrigation Technologies Drip Irrigation Multi-stream nozzles

56 New Irrigation Technology SMART CONTROLLER Evapotranspiration p Moisture Sensor

57 Use Drip Irrigation 90% efficient i Shrubs areas Flower beds Vegetable Garden Groundcover areas Lawn

58 Drip Irrigation

59 MULCH MULCH MULCH

60 Increases water absorbing capacity Increases water holding capacity Reduces water evaporation Reduces erosion Helps control weeds Moderates soil temperature Break down into plant nutrients MULCH

61 Compost All Yard Waste Don t Bag It

62 Landscape Maintenance BMPs Mowing Remove 1/3 leaf blade Shape blades Early morning Fertilizer Soil test Slow Release Pest Control Identification

63 Rainwater Harvesting

64 Rain Garden

65 Rainwater Harvesting And Rain Garden

66 Resources Texas AgriLife Extension Water Providers Texas SmartScape web site Fort Worth Botanic Garden Dallas Arboretum Garden Centers Landscape Demonstrations

67 Resources t d / t t / tamu edu/ tamu edu/ u u edu/ea d/ de

68 For More Information Dotty Woodson Extension Program Specialist- Water Resources Texas AgriLife Extension Coit Road Dallas, Texas