Left Hand WD 1997 WC Plan

• Project Type: Water Conservation Plan
• Project Name: Left Hand Water District Water Conservation Plan
• Title: Left Hand Water District Water Conservation Plan
• Date: 2/24/1997
• County: Boulder
• Water Conservation - Doc Type: Complete Plan

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DEMONSTRATION GARDEN PLAN

Several years ago, the District began a Xeriscape program to help inform
our customers of options when they were installing new landscaping. We
have always provided tours of our facilities to the public, so when a
new administration building was planned on the property adjoining our
treatment and maintenance facilities, it seemed the perfect opportunity
to construct a "water wise" demonstration garden, installed in the
summer of 1996.

Andrew Mead of Mead's Custom Landscaping became our consultant,
designer, and contractor for the project. In addition to owning and
operation of his own business, Mr. Mead teaches Xeriscape classes at cu.
Mr. Mead's design for the project includes several different turf
demonstration areas; tree, shrub and perennial beds that are mulched
with cobble stone and aspen mulch; an irrigation system that uses
untreated water from a holding pond; and signage. Separate water meters
are installed on different sections of the garden to compare usage. The
installation of landscaped sections immediately adjacent to and in front
of the administration building reflect water-wise commercial
landscaping, and were installed in 1995.

The following outline is a summary of objectives and design parameters
for the site.

1. The site has Xeriscape and traditional landscaping plots installed
and metered separately to accurately track water usage. Baseline
data will be collected over time to illustrate seasonal and yearly
variations in water use. This data can be used to calculate
investment "recovery" time for the economy minded visitors.

2.

Water used for the project irrigation system is
Irrigation water is diverted to a holding pond on site,
directly from the pond to the irrigation system which
sprinklers and drip irrigation, thus saving treatment

untreated.
then pumped
consists of
costs.

3. Plant materials selected provide an array of Xeriscape materials
that have hardiness and suitability in residential landscape.
Trees, shrubs, turf, ground cover, and perennials are displayed in
attractive, "home garden" style settings.

4.

Signage labels the different landscape plots and individual plants.
Chart calculating wat--er--mete:r :readin':js COllv<:::rteJ to- y<::cl.Lly -water
costs are available on site.

5.

A pamphlet has been designed for self-guided tours of the
demonstration garden plots. This will be expanded into summer time
"xeri-tips" enclosures in monthly water billing to provide useful
tips focusing on plant types, mulches and fine tuning of lawn
sprinkler systems for maximum efficiency.

6.

School tours will be developed that illustrate water conveyance,
treatment and various uses of water, including the amount of water
typically used in residential landscaping. Tours of the
demonstration garden will illustrate how water savings does not
have to be achieved by sacrificing aesthetics. Through the
education of future water users, the enthusiasm generated will
carry home to involve parents as well.

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