Bayfield Xeriscape Ed Final Report

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"'u.~".'" ...1, l),- d'-,-ljll'J;ij~LLd by a dnl.?-syslem newly developed by the 1 01"0 CompalJY. "\Ve'JI he using ditch waler," Roberts said "That way we '\fOll't lap ill to th~ domestic water supply." Also, with allundergrollnd system lhere is 110 evaporalion, hence no Wasted water. The ditch supplies about fi7 gal- lOlls of water a minute, and Roherts' plans call for lIsing fiO g-al- Ions or less per minute. "During I the ~rst phase, we'll be landscaping a slnp of gronnd about 300 feet long and 100 feet wide," Roberts saul. Plantillg and landscaping by vol- ~lIl~eer students will hegin next sprIng. Students will also create signs that will identify grasses, slll:ubs and trees along the nature trail. . "Of coors.e, what we're really tty- III?" to do, IS plant a seed in the m.Illcls of lhe children," RoLens saId ~vith <.1 smile. "That's why we're starllllg wllh the e1emenlary school students. ''''e hope to contilllle lhis p:(~eCI in lhe middle school anci lugh school. After all," he Con- ell.Hied, "\Ve're lhe guardians of tillS lane!." HERALD/CHARLIE LANGDON BERT ROBERTS is in charge of the water-efficient landscaping project at Bayfield Elementary School. Water Project B~eld groundskeeper heads one of first state-funded water conservation projects By Charlie Langdon Herald Staff Writer "It's not just an empty field to me," Bert Roberts said, Roberts, groundskeeper for Ray- field School District 10 .IT-R, looked about the yard at the elemenlary school. At first glance, most of the 12 acres had a parched appearance. Although there was a well-designed, handicapped acces- sible play area jnst behind the school, the rest of the groundg had the look of a dry meadow with sandy soil and sparse grass. lIow- ever, that was not the scene Roherts had in mind. "You see, wc're going to have a path along here," he said pointing aht.'And alongside it, we'll have fesc ,and other drought resistant grasses, and junipers and decidu- ous trees. And fllrlhcr along," he (ontinucd, "vVc'lI establish a wct area, with some cattails and bull rilshes, And O\'cr t11(-'I:e, we'll pU,t, ill some aspen an(1 blue sprucc." Roberls was describing the bc- ginning elements of a Water Effi- ciency Grant Program awarded to the Rayfield School District by the Colorado Office of Water Conser- vation. The $7,000 underground irrigation program is one of only 1-1 pilot projects funded by the slate. "This is lhe first lime they've funded projects," Roberts said, "And I can't tell you how exciled and proud I am about the one we have. It will be an outdoor class- room that will demonstrate watcr- efficient landscaping to the stl1~ dents as well as the townspeople." Plans call fur the addition of stale-oJ:the-art ll11derground water emitters 10 the existing water sys- tem under llle playground. "The hackbone of the system is already. in place," Roberts said. ''I'll he ad- ding lhe new emitters in August .11 See WATER, Page 11..."