Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District 2003 Annual Report

Home Browse Search

The District has cultivated a wonderful learning tool for the residents of southern Colorado by creating the Xeriscape Demonstration Garden. The garden provides an opportunity to become familiar with many different low -water plants that can be used in a Landscape. The garden coordinator provides guided tours and has developed a number of educational workshops to encourage water - conservation in a landscape. The educational programs available are presentations on the following: 1. The Principles of Xeriscape and How to apply them to a Landscape 2. Plants that Prosper in a Low -Water Garden 3. Water Wise Irrigation Methods 4. Coping with Drought in the Landscape. Jean Van Pelt Educational Program & Maintenance Coordinator The coordinator travels throughout the District to provide these water conservation programs to the public. The District also demonstrates many water wise irrigation methods. The garden now demonstrates the use of drip irrigation and subsurface drip irrigation, funding was provided from a grant from the Bureau of Reclamation. The coordinator has also developed an in depth watering schedule. This schedule records the amount of irrigation and precipitation that each irrigation zone receives. This information is valuable in monitoring the exact amounts of water required to establish a low water landscape. The garden is located at the District's office building, 31717 United Avenue. The garden can be viewed during or after business hours, however, a majority of the brochures are kept inside the building, which is accessible Monday- Friday, 7:30 a.m. — 4:30 p.m. In order to schedule a tour or a presentation call (719) 948- 2023 or visit our Web site at www.secwcd.or click on Xeriscape. (See the back cover for photos taken of the xeriscape garden). • Xeriscaping is the art of creating a water - conserving landscape by using plants that are appropriate to the natural environment. • The term Xeriscape is derived from the Greek word, Xeros, which means dry. Xeriscape landscapes are not dry and dull! Well designed xeriscapes are beautiful and functional. • CONSERVES WATER: Over 50 percent of our household water supply is used for landscape irrigation. • CONSERVES TIME: By including xeric plants in your landscape, your time spent watering, mowing, and maintaining your landscape will be greatly reduced. • CONSERVES MONEY: Not only can you reduce your water bills, but maintenance costs can be reduced also. By utilizing plants that prefer Colorado's weather and soils, you can reduce the expense of replacing poorly adapted plants. Proper plant selection also reduces the amounts of chemical fertilizers and pesticides needed in the landscape. • XERISCAPE GARDENS DO NOT SUFFER FROM DROUGHT: An established water -wise garden will not suffer from prolonged drought when conventional, water - thirsty landscapes do. A well designed, installed, and maintained Xeriscape can increase property values up to 15 percent. • 21 •