Funding: Department of Water Resources Proposition 84 River-Friendly Landscaping Turf Buy Back Program
Outline Introduction River Friendly Landscaping Overview Turf Buy Back Program Program Components Techniques for lawn removal Mulching considerations Planting considerations
Watershed Overview =
The Truckee River is NOT Pristine. It may look pretty The Truckee but it s not happy
If you look closer Erosion Down cuts Dams
Here s what we do Collaborate. Convene. Coordinate. Prevent Restore Engage
Here s how we do it Programs Policy People
River-Friendly Landscaping The purpose of River Friendly Landscaping is to improve water quality by: Reducing erosion and the transfer of sediment from residential properties Increasing infiltration of water on residential properties Implementing water conservation measures on residential properties
River Friendly Landscaping Guiding Principles Water Quality Water Conservation Partnership Low Impact Development Defensible Space
What Are We Responding To?
Overview Turf Buy Back is a rebate program that offers homeowners the opportunity to remove their lawn and replace it with drought-friendly native or adapted vegetation.
Project Goals Raise awareness of water conservation strategies and reduce water consumption among local residents and homeowners Enhance soil health and increase biodiversity of flora and fauna within Truckee River Watershed Convert 10,000 square feet of turf/lawn to more efficient, drought tolerant landscapes Define opportunities for additional funding of Turf Buy-Back component
River Friendly Landscaping - Turf Buy-Back Program Benefits of Lawn Conversion: Water Conservation Reduce runoff & increase infiltration From This Enhance soil health & increase bio-diversity To This!
River Friendly Landscaping - Turf Buy-Back Program Pre-Conversion: Must reside within WS Council s jurisdiction Lawn must be established, not freshly laid sod Minimum conversion of 400 square feet Pre-Conversion Site Visit required prior to any turf removal
River Friendly Landscaping - Turf Buy-Back Program Post Conversion: 50% Living Plant Cover - Plant appropriate to space and environment Efficient Irrigation Surface Treatment - Create mosaic landscape patterns - Up to $1500 rebate!
What we will NOT be doing Drafting full landscape plan Making substantial changes to any developed landscape plan Developing any type of irrigation plan Making recommendations on how to install irrigation
Homeowner Response - 2016 Cromley Square
Homeowner Response - 2016 Cinder Cone CT
Homeowner Response - 2016 Removal of ~ 1600 sq ft of turf at NorthStar Village & Resort
River Friendly Landscaping - Turf Buy-Back Program Efficient Irrigation: What time of the day should I water? - Evening & early morning How often do I need to water? - Summer vs Spring/Fall How long do I water? - Define root zone How much do I need to water? - Precipitation rate, soil considerations, etc - Rain sensor rebate TDPUD
Efficient Irrigation If watering system is used, must be: Drip irrigation equipped with filter and pressure regulator - filter prevents sediment from clogging the emitters, ensuring plants will get the correct amount of water - -Failure to install a pressure regulator may cause fittings to break and lines to fail creating leaks in your system Retrofit of existing fixed spray heads to high efficiency nozzles
Conversion of Lawn Sprinklers to Micro-Irrigation Point source emitters: - Delivers set amounts of water between ½ gallon to 5 gallons per hour. - Typical use: sparsely planted trees, shrubs and perennial beds. Line source emitters: - Delivers water at regular intervals along a linear path - usually expressed in gallons per minute per 100 foot section - Typical use: Row crops (PROVIDE EXAMPLE) Micro spray emitters: - Operates by throwing water through the air in predetermined patterns - Typical use: densely planted ground covers. Hint: For water efficiency and plant health, avoid using high flow and low flow emitters in the same irrigation zone.
Specific Products Toro Precision (@ 30 PSI) Hunter MP Rotator (@ 40 PSI) Rain Bird HE Van (@ 30 PSI) - All products report an estimated 30% of water savings due to even coverage and slow application rate
Calculating Water Use:
How To Kill Your Lawn!
River Friendly Landscaping - Turf Buy-Back Program Techniques for Lawn/Turf Removal: Mulch Smother Pros: inexpensive, adds nutrients to the soil, uses recycled materials Cons: time consuming Sod Cutter Pros: fastest method of removing turf Cons: most expensive option, can be hard to maneuver on slopes and can damage landscape tree and shrub roots, turf needs to be disposed of, usually in a landfill
Strategies for establishing a more efficient landscape: Soil Preparation & Plant Selection Group plants together with similar water needs Determine sun exposure and shade cover on site Create an appropriate irrigation plan Apply mulch for weed control, moisture retention & nutrient replenishment
Organic Mulches Bark Chips Mulching Considerations: Organic Bark Chips Wood Chips and Shredded Wood Shredded Wood Cedar or Redwood
In-Organic Inorganic Mulches Organic Mulches Bark Chips Gravels Mulching Considerations: Gravels Pea Gravel River Rock
Organic Mulches Bark Chips Planting Considerations: Shade Tolerant - Ground Covers: Mountain Strawberry Thimbleberry Sweet woodruff - Easily transplanted - Cut back to ground - easy to divide & transplant for bushier growth
Organic Mulches Bark Chips Planting Considerations: Steppable Groundcovers: Creeping Snowberry Creeping cinquefoil Elfin thyme - Light traffic - Medium traffic - Heavy traffic - medium water needs - moderate water needs - minimal water needs
Organic Mulches Bark Chips Planting Considerations: Shade Tolerant - Perennials: Columbine Bleeding Heart Stonecrop - medium water needs (all)
Organic Mulches Bark Chips Planting Considerations: Perennials: Sulfur Buckwheat Shasta Daisy Western Blue Flax - needs well drained soil - sun to part shade - abundance of seeds - 1 in height clumping - 1-3 in height - ~ 2 in height
Organic Mulches Bark Chips Planting Considerations: Native/Drought Tolerant Shrubs: Sierra Current Red Osier Dogwood Blue Elderberry - Moderate water needs - High water needs - High water needs - Shade tolerant - Shade tolerant - Shade tolerant Snowberry Spiraea - Sun to part shade - Sun to shade
Final Result: Photo curtesy TRPA
Questions?