La Junta Xeriscape Garden Applic

• Project Type: Ag/Muni Grant
• Applicant: City of La Junta
• Project Name: Xeriscape Garden
• Title: Grant Application
• Date: 3/1/1993
• County: Otero
• Water Conservation - Doc Type: Application

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and recycling center drop-off already exist in the area.
1 depicts the envisioned final product.

The City would like to make this entire park a low water use area.
The baseball field and picnic area would use some mixture of
drought resistant grasses, such as blue grama, buffalo grass,
crested wheatgrass, smooth brome or fescue. Water to these areas
would be metered separately to provide a record of water savings.

Figure

The Xeriscape Garden is central to the plan for demonstration of
the potential beauty of xeriscape gardening. This section of the
park would cover approximately one acre, available to the public
for enjoyment and study. Various species of arid and semi-arid
plant life will be located along the hiking trail. Each type of
plant will be labeled to indicate its common name, botanical name,
water requirements, and any other interesting facts about the
plant. Drip irrigation will be used as necessary to assure plant
maintenance. Water use will be metered and documented for
comparison with other park areas on a gallons-used per square-foot
basis.

The City's Water Department and Parks Department will share
coordination and administration responsibilities for the project.
Anticipated project planning includes design, turf alternatives,
mulches, site analysis, soil improvements, plant selection, zoning,
maintenance, public information and evaluation.

Local leaders , civic groups, and schools will be recruited to
support the project with donations of labor, funding, and
dissemination of information. Already, some high school students
have expressed interest in helping with the garden. The general
public will be informed of the project through newspaper, radio,
magazines, brochures, special tours and other available media.
Public comment on the completed project will be solicited. Follow
up information detailing water savings and other advantages will
be provided to the public.

In conclusion, we expect the project to accomplish the following:

1) demonstrate water savings to the xeriscaped land;

2) encourage home-owners to use xeriscaping and educate the
public in water conservation; and,

3) promote public support for the use of xeriscaping in
future municipal planning.

A Xeriscape Garden in La Junta would provide a positive forum for
change of community norms about landscaping and water use, not only
in La Junta, but throughout southeastern Colorado. Through a
living example, our citizens would visualize the concept, relate
to its purpose, and adopt its use in their own landscaping.

2. TRACKING WATER USE

City-wide water use is tracked monthly by computer, using metered
consumption from residential, commercial, industrial, and
irr igation accounts. Quanti ties are charted and graphed for
comparison. Monthly reports are provided to the utility Board and
local newspaper.