waterwise The official publication of Colorado WaterWise
The Voice of the Colorado Water Conservation Community
www.coloradowaterwise.org
In this issue... Live Like You Love It Campaign Takes Off Water Education page 3
Pg. 3 Colorado Water Water and Electricity Live Like You Love It! Do Mix - page 11
Know the Rules with Pg. 9 Interview Regarding Water Ray Tschillard and Conservation Legislation - page 18
Pg. 13 Water Efficiency Workshop ColoradoWaterWise.org
Pg. 14 Interview with Gary Klein
Fall 2016
s r o t i d e e h t From Our burgeoning population is evidence that Colorado is a wonderful place to live. Its urban areas are filled with culture and amenities. It has wide open spaces that provide us with local food and beverages and wild places that excite the adventurous among us. Most of all, Colorado provides us with the natural resources and spaces that we love and one of our most precious is water. Water utilities across the state are charged with the mission to provide water that will accommodate Colorado’s growing population and support our economy. The fall issue of the newsletter is about projects that utilities are doing now to reduce water demand, increase efficiency and educate the population while simultaneously preparing for the next 50 years. On the following pages you will see how one person or community can make an impact. You will read what is going on at the federal level and how forming partnerships and alliances will continue to be important. Finally, Colorado WaterWise’s educational campaign has developed more tools for utilities to educate their customers on the true value of water. To learn more about getting involved and how you can use the materials, go to ColoradoWaterWise.org. Remember to bookmark the Colorado WaterWise webpage to stay on top of upcoming events.
WaterWise is the official publication of Colorado WaterWise and is published four times a year (March, June, September, and December). Articles are due one month before the newsletter comes out. Officers: Co-chairs: Alyssa Quinn-Platte Canyon & Ruth Quade-Greeley Co-secretaries: Nona Shipman-One World One Water & Lindsey Bashline-Loveland Utilities Co-treasurers: Amelia Nuding-Western Resource Advocates & Lyndsey LuciaNorthern Water Board Members: The officers above and Laura Wing-City of Thornton; Frank Kinder-Colorado Springs Utilities; Becky Fedak-Brendle Group, Leslie Martien-Aquacraft; Kate Larson- Center for ReSource Conservation; Rose Marie Clouse-City of Fountain; Diana Denwood-Aurora Water; Renee Davis-City of Fort Collins, Michael Thomas-Denver Water Newsletter Committee: Editors, Kim Frick, Leslie Martien, Ruth Quade & Michael Thomas Design: Natalie Stevens Advertising Sales: Ruth Quade, 970-3509874, ruth.quade@greeleygov.com
Kim Frick Ruth Quade Leslie Martien Michael Thomas Colorado WaterWise Ongoing Meetings
Colorado WaterWise Board Meetings: Second Thursday of each month, 10 a.m.-noon September 8
October 13
November 10
December 8
To submit a story topic, email Kim Frick at kim.frick@cityofloveland.org WaterWise articles may be reproduced in other publications with credit given to the author and Colorado WaterWise. Any advertisement of or reference to a product or service is not intended as an endorsement. This newsletter is intended to spark dialogue about various issues concerning water conservation in Colorado. The viewpoints of the authors are not necessarily those of Colorado WaterWise.
On the cover: Fall at Greeley’s Family FunPlex recreation center. Photo by City of Greeley.
ColoradoWaterWise.org
LoveColoradoWater.org
LIVE LIKE YOU LOVE IT CAMPAIGN TAKES OFF Colorado WaterWise launched Colorado Water – Live Like You Love It (LLYLI) in 2014. This statewide campaign is designed to deliver a unified, consistent message about the value of Colorado water and the need to conserve, care for and commit to becoming more informed about this critical resource. Visit lovecoloradowater.org/join/ to learn more how to be a part of it. Below are images of the campaign in action.
YOUR WATER SYSTEM What it takes to bring YOU safe drinking water. Meeting government regulations and safe drinking water standards Environmental protection for watersheds, recreation and fisheries Meter reading, water conservation programs, public information, school outreach, customer information Expertise and staffing to provide all these services Acquisition, storage, treatment and redelivery of safe drinking water Financing the infrastructure needed to deliver water including pipes, reservoirs, pump stations, water treatment facilities
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FINAL LUNCH ‘N LEARN COMING OCTOBER 13TH HIGH EFFICIENCY PLUMBING: TECHNOLOGY THAT WORKS Frank Kinder, Colorado Springs Utilities This year’s third and final Lunch ‘n Learn is coming up on Thursday, October 13th from 12:30 - 2 p.m. at Rampart Supply (252 Rio Grande, Blvd. Denver, CO 80223). CWW continue our focus on the advances of technology in the world of water conservation. After two successful events focusing on software conservation technologies and focusing on electronic data analytics and targeted efficiency outreach, we will now switch our focus to fixtures, or the other ‘end’ of the solution. Our first 2016 Lunch ‘n Learn was Delivering Conservation through Digital Communication, featuring Oracle’s Public Sector Customer Experience Applications. This effort synergizes connecting to customers through cloud marketing, social and service technologies to enhance relationships, and participation using government to business and government to consumer methods. Our second 2016 Lunch ‘n Learn was The Next Generation of Data-Driven Demand Management for Rocky Mountain Utilities featuring WaterSmart Software. This event featured Colorado projects which sought to improve demand management, financial forecasting and budgeting, while simultaneously reducing capital costs for longterm infrastructure projects through improved customer communications and water-use education. Our last 2016 Lunch ‘n Learn will focus on the very tangible, physical products that are such an important part of conservation water-use fixtures. Toto Corporation will share how all types of water fixtures have evolved to maximize water efficiency with optimal performance. Content will include the technology that achieves water and energy efficiency, sanitation, convenience, and cost savings. This timely information supports the implementation of Colorado’s WaterSense fixture legislation, as suppliers will have shifted to high-efficiency bathroom products in 2016. Further, it will expand on how these solutions contribute to green building certifications, supply chain transparency, and the preservation of historic and affordable properties. Come learn with us about these all-too-important parts of everyone’s lives and how they’re contributing to the water efficiency industry, Colorado Water Plan, and the success of utility conservation across the country. Look for an email invitation to register with complete details soon.
Save The Date
Friday, December 2, 2016 St. Cajetans, Auraria Campus Details at: ColoradoWaterWise.org
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COOPERATION IS THE KEY TO STATE CERTIFICATION
By Matt Wittern, Denver Water As a native Coloradan and lifelong fly fisherman, I’ve spent a good portion of my life trying to sell trout a line. I’ve encountered many frustrated fisherman in my day, and remember too many days when I’ve counted myself among them. No matter what you hear or read about how to be successful in the sport—tippet size, line length, fly pattern, cast placement—success all comes down to one word: approach. And that same word as it turns out, applies to how Denver Water recently secured Gov. John Hickenlooper’s endorsement and a state water quality certification for the proposed Gross Reservoir Expansion Project, a project that will result in a net environmental benefit for the state. The completed project will result in the addition of 424 acres to the reservoir’s current surface area of 418 acres. Here are the technical details: The Section 401 Certification under the Federal Clean Water Act, or more succinctly, a 401 Certification, comes from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). The certification is one big step forward for the Gross Reservoir Expansion Project. Without diving too much into the weeds (where personal experience teaches that you’re just going to get snagged and lose a couple flies), this is a REALLY big deal, and not just for Denver Water, but for the environment and interests on the West Slope, too.
Gross Reservior
“I think there are benefits on both sides of the Divide on this project,” said Jon Goldin-Dubois, president of Western Resource Advocates, one of Colorado’s most respected and influential environmental groups. “Denver Water has guaranteed that when there are temperature fluctuations that threaten the health of the river, there will be additional releases. In the driest years, Denver Water can release additional water downstream, and that helps rivers across the West Slope.” WaterWise
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Let’s face it: In the past, Denver Water’s approach to these issues has been flawed, and like a fisherman using a DuPont lure, shockwaves and damage were left in its wake. But today’s Denver Water is much more like a successful fly fisherman who takes into account the environment, notices nuances in the currents, and observes and reacts to changes in the hatch. Denver Water changed its approach to one of cooperation and relationship building, and in so doing found solutions to this challenging project. “We were involved in a very lengthy battle with Denver Water over the Two Forks project some 25 years ago,” remembers David Nickum, executive director of Colorado Trout Unlimited. “At that time, the idea of Trout Unlimited and Denver Water working together would have been difficult to imagine. I think that we’ve just seen a sea-change in Denver Water’s attitude toward really trying to work with partners in those basins, to understand that those are legitimate concerns and considerations, that we can actually achieve win-wins by all working together, listening to each other, understanding our various concerns and looking at the fact that we do have a common interest in watersheds like the Fraser.”
Denver Water CEO Jim Lochhead (left) accepts the 2016 River Stewardship Award from David Nickum, executive director of Colorado Trout Unlimited.
The conditions included in the 401 Certification provide for long-term monitoring of stream temperature, nutrients, metals and aquatic life with an adaptive management strategy for responding to water quality impairments, if detected. The certification builds upon the cooperative process that helped get us here and the manner in which fishermen hone their skills in the sport. It’s called Learning By Doing. CDPHE describes Learning By Doing as “… a cooperative process that has a goal of maintaining or improving the “stream environment” in the project area.” An adaptive management strategy is employed to make decisions about allocating resources to meet the goal. The management committee includes representatives from Denver Water, Grand County, the Colorado River Conservation District, Middle Park Water Conservancy District, Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District (Municipal Subdistrict), Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and Trout Unlimited. Beyond working collaboratively, Denver Water has made additional commitments and earmarked millions of dollars in funding to enhance the environment as part of a broader approach to secure approval for the project. These include committing additional funds to multiple water improvement and stream restoration efforts in collaboration with West Slope county officials, Trout Unlimited and other interested parties. Kind of like when you hook a magnificent trout with a perfect cast, this approach is instructive, rewarding and encourages us to do it more. WaterWise
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ENVIRONMENTAL ALLIANCE AIMS TO LET NO VOICE GO UNHEARD By Jimmy Luthye, Denver Water Not so long ago, it looked like the water feud between the Front Range and the West Slope might carry on forever—a Rocky Mountain version of the Hatfields and McCoys, or the Montagues and Capulets. “The traditional approach was for the West Slope and the East Slope to just fight with each other,” Denver Water CEO/ Manager Jim Lochhead recently told Lance Maggart of Grand County’s Ski-High News. “We would litigate and argue. But there is no benefit to the environment from us just arguing.” Now, the conflict appears to be receding, though the issues remain. Water is simply too precious a resource for there not to be concerns over where it all goes, and to whom. But something has changed. Confrontation is getting shoved aside by collaboration. In 2013, after more than five years of negotiations, the Colorado River Cooperative Agreement (CRCA) was formally signed by 18 entities, including Denver Water, Grand County, Summit County and the Colorado River District. As part of the CRCA, Denver Water, Grand County and other West Slope parties joined together to create the Learning By Doing Cooperative Effort (or Learning By Doing, for short), “to maintain, and where reasonably possible, restore or enhance” the aquatic environment of Grand County. “Learning By Doing is really a complete paradigm shift,” Lochhead told Maggart. The members of the Learning By Doing management committee underscore their commitment to collaboration. The committee consists of the following groups: • • • • • •
Colorado Parks and Wildlife Colorado River District Denver Water Grand County Middle Park Water Conservancy District Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District
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Paula Daukas, Denver Water’s manager of environmental planning, added that the alliance provides “added flexibility when future environmental needs arise on the Fraser, Williams Fork and Colorado River basins. This new collaborative approach will make sure no voices go unheard when important decisions about the rivers are needed.” Denver Water jumped in early by providing $50,000 to a Fraser River diversion pond project in 2011 and another $50,000 to the Grand County’s Fraser Flats Habitat Project, scheduled for this fall.
Fraser Flats River Habitat Project
The group technically becomes official once Denver Water receives the required permits to expand Gross Reservoir in Boulder County, with the greatest benefits coming with the conclusion of the five-year expansion project. “It’s really a capacity issue,” Daukas said. “Once we have the added flexibility of a larger Gross Reservoir, we will be able to move more water from different areas as needed, depending on the specific needs of the environment at that time.” Those are the decisions Learning By Doing will make as a group, with Grand County’s best interests at heart. And that’s really the point. “Grand County is special to residents and visitors alike because of its incredible outdoor quality of life, including its rivers and streams and world-class trout fishing,” said Mely Whiting, Trout Unlimited legal counsel, in the Maggart article. “If we want to preserve that quality of life we have to be good stewards of our rivers. Learning By Doing provides a way to work together toward that community goal.”
HAVEY PRODUCTIONS CREATES A WATER EFFICIENCY FILM Jim Havey, producer of The Great Divide, a water documentary film, will roll out his next film this year. Doing More With Less is a shorter film that will feature the challenge and opportunity of water efficiency. A collaborative effort of the State of Colorado and One World One Water at Metro State University, the purpose of the film is to redefine and update how we talk about water efficiency and its role in the future of water management in Colorado. It will address big picture, water usage issues and how they relate to individual use and responsibility while highlighting the cumulative impact of efficiency efforts and motivating viewer action and behavior change. The focus is urban water, mostly residential, with a nod to some commercial aspects like hotels and/or offices. A variety of water efficiency professionals and community practitioners are contributing to the film, and Colorado WaterWise will share updates. Look for it to premiere at water events around the state, including possibly the Conservation Summit. To find out more, contact Jim at haveypro.com.
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CONFLUENCE INSTITUTE 2016 IN GREELEY By Pam Wright, City of Greeley Confluence Institute is a four day, hands-on, water education workshop for educators from northeastern Colorado to learn about water resources and how to bring that knowledge into their classrooms through a combination of field tours, guest speakers, Project WET curriculum, and hands-on activities. The Institute is presented in partnership with Central Colorado Water Conservancy District, the City of Greeley Water and Stormwater, West Greeley Conservation District, and the Poudre Learning Center who bring expertise and resources to their classrooms. Confluence Institute is for educators at all levels, formal and non-formal, on diverse water topics, so that those educators can reach children with objective, experiential, science-based water education. The three year program focuses on a specific theme each year: the Watershed, Urban Issues, or Agriculture and is tailored to the region and highlights local water. The Workshop is free to teachers and is located at the Poudre Learning Center in Greeley the last week of July. Teachers receive two Adams State credits as well as District Six credit. Teachers also do a pre-test and post-test to make sure the course objectives are met. Participants received the Project Wet curriculum and Activity Guide and the Colorado WaterWise curriculum. Project WET’s mission is to reach children, parents, teachers and community members of the world with water education that promotes awareness of water and empowers community action to solve complex water issues. This is achieved in part by publishing water resource education materials that are appropriate for many different age groups and cultures, offering comprehensive coverage of the broad topic of water, and building a worldwide network of educators, water resource professionals, NGOs, water scientists and other experts to advocate for the role of water education in solving complex water issues. Confluence 2016 “Focus on the Watershed” was a huge success. Twenty-one students attended the four day workshop. One teacher wrote, “This is such an exceptional and wonderful class! The instructors are knowledgeable and truly experts in their areas. Activities were engaging and enjoyable! I’m so sad this is my last time.” Teachers learned about water resources and how to bring that knowledge into their classrooms through a combination of field tours, guest speakers, Project WET curriculum, and hands-on activities suitable for educators at all levels and subjects. The students learned to engage, explore, explain, elaborate, and evaluate from activities the class offered, such as exploring a watershed, preparing activities to teach others, water quality testing, exploring a confluence, geological history of a watershed, groundwater movement and much more. For more information contact Kathy Parker at 970-330-4540 or kparker@ ccwcd.org. Link to Project Wet blog with video. WaterWise
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BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE WATER FUTURE By Frank Kinder, Colorado Springs Utilities To celebrate World Water Day on March 22nd, the White House released a summary of solutions planned and underway across the nation and within various industries that are addressing our country’s and planet’s water challenges. This important announcement explains a broad array of examples where investment and collaboration are focusing on all things water in ways not recently or typically seen. As water professionals, we live in the ‘world of wet’ every day, but beyond their typical consumption, most citizens aren’t always so enmeshed in how water affects their lives. Recently, national and local news about water and its conditions are generating significant interest and involvement, and Colorado WaterWise is pleased to see additional attention on this finite and life-giving resource. Specific to Colorado, the following is included in the White House report: “The State of Colorado is working with private, public, and philanthropic partners to create new institutions that will help drive water innovation and infrastructure. These institutions are: A Water Data and Innovation Hub in Denver to serve as a laboratory for innovation and data analytics specifically focused on water. This “Hub” is the product of a two-and-a-half day summit of private and community foundations that Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper convened in February 2016. A Center of Excellence and an Intermountain Infrastructure Exchange in Colorado to (1) help leverage Federal and state funds for public-infrastructure projects with private capital; (2) assist project proponents in considering how up-front capital can be supplied from private-sector partners; and (3) assess how project risk can be transferred to private-sector capital partners and away from the public.” From improving drought monitoring, to progress on water efficient technologies, climate change, energy production, the energy-water nexus, protecting water quality, food production, water loss control, enhancing public education and appreciation for water, and ensuring affordability to all economic strata, this initiative promises to coalesce existing efforts and connect organizations working to advance water sustainability. Take a look to see the wide variety of projects and participants and how they may affect your industry. WaterWise 10
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WATER AND ELECTRICITY DO MIX: THE PRESSURIZED IRRIGATION SMALL HYDROPOWER PARTNERSHIP PROJECT By Leslie Martien, Aquacraft Agriculture represents about 86 percent of Colorado’s consumptive water use, and according to a 2013 Agricultural Energy Market Research report from the Colorado Energy Office, “even though irrigated land is less than 10% of the state’s farmland, the electricity costs to power irrigation made up more than 50% of the total electric expenses in 2008 for Colorado’s agriculture sector.” The report goes on to say that “Irrigation and its associated electricity costs is one of the largest areas of energy consumption on a farm. Farming respondents reported spending an average of approximately $33,000 per year on electricity….” Acre3 is a program developed by the Colorado Department of Agriculture and is designed to provide state-level support for agricultural energy management program. It is the primary source of funding for agricultural energy management in Colorado and “provides financial and technical assistance and education to help agricultural producers and processors cut energy costs, develop their own energy resources and create markets for agriculturally-derived energy and fuels.” Acre3 has secured more than $3 million in funding for the Pressurized Irrigation Small Hydropower Partnership Project which includes $1.8 million from the USDA Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). Additional funding for the project comes from 14 partner agencies and groups such as American Rivers, Colorado State University Extension and the Colorado Water Conservation Board. The first installation was completed earlier this summer at a farm in Hotchkiss, Colorado. $36,000 of the $50,000 project came from Acre3, Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) the Delta Conservation District and Natural Resources Conservation Service Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). A second project is underway near Kersey. The small hydropower systems have an additional benefit. In addition to saving energy the project saves water. Old-fashioned, inefficient, flood irrigation methods are being replaced with specialized circular sprinkler systems and the energy lost as the irrigation water runs downhill is instead captured by routing it through a pipeline where it flows through the 8-kilowatt hour hydropower generator. “This project helps farmers by putting their water to work, creating electricity that lowers their power bills,” said Don Brown, Commissioner of Agriculture. “We are very proud of this project and how it gives producers a way to cut their costs and use their resources efficiently.” The Colorado Department of Agriculture is looking for more participants and hopes to create 30 on-farm hydropower projects in Colorado over the next few years. To apply for the funding programs contact Sam Anderson at sam.anderson@state.co.us. WaterWise
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interview
A Spotlight on
LYNDSEY LUCIA WW: Tell us a little about yourself. I am a Fort Collins native and graduated from Colorado State University in 2010 with a degree in Landscape Design and Horticulture. WW: How did you get started in the water conservation business? I have been involved in the green industry 16 years starting at nurseries, which influenced me to go into horticulture. While in college I began working during the summer months at Northern Water working in the Conservation Gardens where I started learning about Northern Water’s role in the conservation community. WW: Regarding water conservation, what do you feel are the biggest challenges facing Colorado? One of the biggest challenges is educating the public about water conservation. It’s not only telling the public about why conservation is important but also providing real-world examples on how to implement water conservation strategies. As Colorado continues to grow and there is more demand for water, implementing conservation strategies will become more crucial in our semi-arid climate. WW: What regulatory measures do you think will have the biggest impact on water conservation in Colorado? The state has passed regulations that have aided in water conservation, such as requirements for low water-use appliances and the recently passed a rain barrel bill. The release of the Colorado Water Plan last fall will also go a long way towards promoting conservation. There is the need to embrace water conservation. A few small steps can save water. If more people commit to learning and practicing conservation we could make a larger impact.
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Interview with Lyndsey Lucia “One of the biggest challenges is educating the public about water conservation. It’s not only telling the public about why conservation is important but also providing realworld examples on how to implement water conservation strategies.”
WW: What technologies do you think will have the biggest impact on water conservation in Colorado? Technology will play a large role moving forward in outdoor water conservation. Smart irrigation controllers, rain shutoff devices, soil moisture sensors, smart phones and other technologies are amazing tools that help homeowners and water managers better use the water they have. Technology is continuing to evolve and change; I believe it will be more widely utilized in the near future. WW: What has given you the most satisfaction during your career? People. I love working with people and being able to share the knowledge that I have with them. It makes me feel good knowing that I am making an impact in the community and strive to be a voice in promoting water conservation. WW: Beyond work, what other interests do you have? Passions, goals, missions? My passion is my family whom I enjoy spending as much time with as possible. In my free time I enjoy camping, hiking, photography, gardening and yoga. We love traveling to the mountains and being out in nature. I am continuing to learn and grow professionally and personally. WW: Are you involved in any specific conservation-related events? I organize a Spring Conservation Gardens Fair at Northern Water each year. The fair showcases new irrigation technology, seminars and resources from professionals in the water conservation community. Community events like this fair provide ample opportunities for the public to learn strategies that are easily implemented and begin conserving water on their landscape.
PLANNING FOR FEDERAL SUSTAINABILITY IN THE NEXT DECADE WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP Executive Order 13693 – Planning for Federal Sustainability in the Next Decade, calls on federal agencies to reduce water use by 36% by fiscal year 2025 from fiscal year 2007 baselines. Targeted areas for reduction include potable water consumption, collecting and utilizing building and facility water balance data, reducing agency industrial, landscaping and agricultural water consumption and installing appropriate green infrastructure features on federally-owned property to help with stormwater and wastewater management. GSA and EPA invite all federal, state and local agencies, NGO’s, and interested parties to participate in the water resource management workgroup to learn of current programs, discuss challenges, and identify potential collaborative efforts to meet the requirements of the Executive Order. The Executive Order may be found at: fedcenter.gov/programs/co13693. To get involved, contact Mary Byrne, 303312-6491, byrne.mary@epa.gov; Lisa Haskins, 303-236-2414, lisa.haskins@gsa.gov. WaterWise
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THE PLASTIC CONNECTION
By Nona Shipman, One World One Water Center Colorado is a headwaters state, meaning the water that falls and accumulates within the state flows out while no other water flows in. The state supplies water to Mexico through historic river compact agreements as well as 18 other U.S. states. Colorado sits thousands of miles from the ocean, yet its residents take water seriously. As a headwaters state, Colorado has the unique opportunity to set an example for the country on how the wise use of water upstream can benefit millions of people downstream. Coloradans are able to demonstrate how responsible local stewardship of their watershed can directly influence ocean health, an important environmental issue for communities and ecosystems thousands of miles away. Dams, locks, and diversions regulate almost every river in the United States. Although many rivers do not flow uninhibited, they still contribute largely to the waste materials found in the ocean. Rivers can contribute to the accumulation of litter by carrying waste that is washed into the rivers from storm drains, wind, and extreme natural events such as landslides and floods. Eventually waste can make its way to the mouth of the river where it connects with the ocean. Studies have revealed that 80% of waste materials found in the ocean comes from land-based activities while the other 20% comes from boats, offshore oil rigs, and cargo ships. Cigarettes are the most common trash found in oceans, yet the volume of plastic items – specifically bags, wrappers, and containers – greatly outweighs any other waste material.
WaterWise
Ocean Conservancy. (2016). 10 Things You Can Do For Trash Free Seas [Infographic]. Retrieved from http://www.oceanconservancy.org/ assets/infographics/10-things-you-can-do-2013.jpg
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In 2015, researchers estimated that there are 269,000 tons of plastic waste currently in the Earth’s oceans. Ocean plastic removal projects are on the way to becoming cost-effective and practical on a large scale. A truly comprehensive initiative will not only invent ways to cleanup plastic waste but also incorporate prevention and education. It is critical to improve waste management, reuse, recycle, and avoid singleuse plastic in order to prevent the chance of waste entering water systems. Plastic trash can be dangerous to marine species as it is often mistaken for food, it can severely tangle and injure animals as well as release toxins, and take hundreds of years to break down. In fact, almost every piece of plastic ever created still exists and researchers are unsure how long it realistically takes for plastic to break down. Oceans are not the only body of water impacted by plastic waste, as recent research has revealed that some freshwater sources are almost as contaminated with microplastics (microscopic pieces of plastic) as the oceans. Plastic waste in rivers, streams, and lakes can produce the same threats to wildlife and water quality as ocean plastics do to the marine ecosystem. The United States is one of the top 20 countries contributing to ocean plastic accumulation adding approximately 40,000-110,000 metric tons of plastic waste each year. While plastic containers and packaging are a large part of the waste problem, they can be difficult to avoid. On average, 80% of items sold in grocery stores involve some form of plastic packaging or container. The EPA reported that nearly 30% of municipal solid waste discarded each year consists of plastic containers and packaging. The same report revealed that in 2012, Americans discarded almost 14 million tons of plastic containers and packaging while only 13.8% of that was recycled. Although Colorado is a great distance from an ocean, the issue of plastic waste is still an important one. There are several ways Coloradans can help reduce the chance of plastic debris from ending up in local water systems. Reusing, recycling, and avoiding plastics are recommended methods to minimize the amount of plastic waste that ends up in streams, rivers, and oceans. More specifically, listed below are some easy and active ways Coloradans can help: • • • • • • • • •
Use cloth shopping bags and mesh produce bags at the grocery store instead of plastic bags; Support environmentally friendly and sustainable companies; Think strategically about the items you are purchasing, the plastic it involves, and where it comes from; Recycle and reuse as much as you can; Organize or participate in river clean up events; Pick up litter that may wash into storm drains; Utilize reusable water bottles instead of bottled water; Avoid single-use plastic items like disposable forks and knives; And share your experience to inspire others!
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HOMETOWN HABITAT: STORIES OF BRINGING NATURE HOME By Norman Creeker A new documentary, showing how Coloradans are combining water conservation efforts and bolstering local ecosystems, will have its Denver movie premiere screening in October at Denver Botanic Gardens. Hometown Habitat, Stories of Bringing Nature Home is a 90-minute, environmental documentary, focused on showing how and why native plants are critical to the survival and vitality of local ecosystems across the United States. In many rainsoaked eastern states, native plants are used to curb storm water runoff and purify it. Here in Colorado, residents and groups are planting natives to sustain pollinating species while conserving water by using more xeric and droughttolerant plants across the Centennial State.
Local hummingbird: photo by Catherine Zimmerman of Hometown Habitat
“This movie is a real eye-opener that shouldn’t be missed,” said Don Ireland, who will introduce the movie for its inaugural Denver showing. Ireland, volunteer president of Cherry Creek 3 HOA in southeast Denver, was the 2015 Colorado WaterWise “Gardner Conservation Award” winner, a 2016 Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment “Environmental Leadership Program” bronze winner and helped his community become the first HOA in Colorado named an Audubon Rockies’ Habitat Hero winner. Since winning the Colorado WaterWise award last fall, Ireland has been working to spread the message of water conservation with a naturefriendly purpose across the state, speaking to audiences via radio, webinars, in classrooms and garden centers. He was been working with the Terra Foundation, Habitat Hero and Plant Select to ask residents to conserve water by planting native species that will help increase and preserve the bird, butterfly, bee and hummingbird populations in Colorado. Cherry Creek 3 HOA has reduced its water consumption by 15 million gallons annually in recent years by changing its watering and landscaping habits compared to what the 250-unit homeowners’ association used in 2008-09.
Habitat Hero winners Lynn and Don Ireland of Cherry Creek HOA, Denver photo by Catherine Zimmerman of Hometown Habitat
Efforts by the Audubon Rockies Habitat Hero program and other nature-conscious people from Pueblo, Denver and the Front Range are featured in the movie, which is being shown nationwide this summer and fall. The movie tries to inspire everyone to learn how they you can support wildlife at their own home. The movie will be followed by a panel discussion including author and biologist Susan J. Tweit; representatives from Rockies Audubon including Alison Halloran, executive director; Jamie Weiss, Habitat Hero program coordinator; and Panayoti Kelaidis, senior curator of Denver Botanic Gardens. WaterWise
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The movie features renowned entomologist Dr. Douglas Tallamy, whose research, books and lectures on the use of non-native plants in landscaping sound the alarm about habitat and species loss. Tallamy provides the narrative thread that challenges the notion that humans are here and nature is someplace else. “It doesn’t have to, and shouldn’t be that way.” Inspiring stories of community commitment to conservation landscaping illustrate Tallamy’s vision by showing how humans and nature can co-exist with mutual benefits. The message: All of us have the power to support habitat for wildlife and bring natural beauty to our patch of the earth. The goal: Build a new army of habitat heroes!
Elizabeth Catt, leading a demonstration garden tour in Pueblo. Photo by: Catherine Zimmerman of Hometown Habitat
The movie, produced and directed by award-winning documentarian Catherine Zimmerman, was shot in various locations in Colorado and talks with residents about how they are dealing with water, plants and nature. Locations included in the movie are the Southeastern Water Conservancy in Pueblo, the private Beulah garden of Chicago transplant Jim Ray, Legacy Ridge Golf Course in Westminster, Cherry Creek 3 HOA in Denver, Denver’s Wash Park neighborhood and other sites. In addition to showing what’s occurring in Colorado, the movie also features the million-tree planting effort in New York City, native species restoration work in Florida’s Everglades, a multi-faith native gardening effort in the mid-Atlantic states and other projects occurring elsewhere in the country. Connie Holsinger, president of the Terra Foundation, explains in the movie how she moved to arid Colorado from rainy Maine and was startled by the lack of rain in the Front Range. Refusing to spend money to water her lawn, Connie switched her landscaping to water-thrifty native species. She worked with Susan J. Tweit to author a book, Colorado Wildscapes, which led to the creation of the Rockies’ Audubon Habitat Hero program. Habitat Hero has recognized about 100 individuals and groups statewide since the program’s inception four years ago. Ireland contends the film’s message is vital for the Front Range and beyond. “We know our population is growing quickly but the amount of water available in the mountains is limited. We need to take small steps–one section of a yard at a time–to trim water use and increase the pollinators we see in urban and suburban settings around our state. I tell groups that if our little HOA can slash its water consumption, they can, too!”
Connie Holsinger, president of the Terra Foundation. Photo by: Catherine Zimmerman of Hometown Habitat
The movie, accompanied by a panel discussion, will be featured at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 18, at DBG. Tickets, $10 each, are limited and can be reserved at: botanicgardens.org. The movie trailer can be viewed at: themeadowproject.com
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Fall 2016
KNOW THE RULES REGARDING WATER AND CONSERVATION LEGISLATION By Ruth Quade, City of Greeley
Understanding the Bills
Xeriscape Time and time again I hear people say that they cannot do Xeriscape in their yard because their Homeowner’s Association (HOA) won’t allow it. Did you know that Senate Bill (SB) 13-183 prohibits HOAs from restrictive covenants that forbid Xeriscape or drought tolerant vegetation or require ground covering consisting of any amount of turf? Furthermore, HOAs cannot levy fines or violations for failure to water turf when drought restrictions are in place. An important caveat is that the homeowner cannot dump a truck load of rock in their yard and call it Xeriscape, nor can they allow their landscape to die, due to neglect. In either case Code Compliance may also enforce city landscape standards. WaterSense® Plumbing Fixtures After September 1, 2016, SB 14-103 prohibits the sale of lavatory faucets, showerheads, and flushing urinals, tank-type toilets and tank-type water closets unless they are a WaterSense-listed plumbing fixture. This will apply to new home sales as well as remodels. WaterSense is the water efficiency certification that is similar to the more familiar Energy Star program for energy efficient appliances. WaterSense® products, unlike Energy Star, are third party certified to meet the water efficiency criteria. Rain Barrels Beginning in August of 2016, homeowners can legally use rain barrels in Colorado thanks to HB 16-1005. The rain barrel bill that failed last year in the legislature passed this time around with overwhelming bipartisan support in the House and passed the Senate in April due to some fine-tuning of the bill. Governor Hickenlooper signed the bill in May. What are the rules? • Single family or multi-family (with four or fewer units) may collect precipitation off their roof. • The water collected must be used on the property where it was collected, and it can only be used for outdoor purposes, such as lawn watering and gardening. • Rain barrels must have a sealable lid and be located above ground. • No more than two rain barrels with a combined capacity of 110 gallons or less. • Homeowner’s Associations (HOAs) may not prohibit rain barrels • Collected water may not be used for drinking or indoor use. If you want to learn more about the legislature, tracking a bill’s status, or just how a bill becomes a law, check out the two links below: General Assembly Colorado’s legislation tracker WaterWise
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Senate Bill (SB) means that it was brought forward through the Colorado Senate. House Bill (HB) means it was brought forward through the Colorado House. The first number refers to the year the bill was brought forward and passed. Many bills are presented and changed over several sessions, so it may have started in 2014 but didn’t pass until the 2016 session and will numbered with that year. The last number is the number that is assigned at introduction in the order of introduction to keep track of it through the session. Senate bills begin numbering at 1 while House bills begin numbering at 1001. i. Definition of Xeriscape in the Bill: “XERISCAPE” MEANS THE COMBINED APPLICATION OF THE SEVEN PRINCIPLES OF LANDSCAPE: PLANNING AND DESIGN, SOIL ANALYSIS AND IMPROVEMENT, HYDRO ZONING OF PLANTS, USE OF PRACTICAL TURF AREAS, USES OF MULCHES, IRRIGATION EFFICIENCY, AND APPROPRIATE MAINTENANCE UNDER SECTION 38-35.7-107 (1) (a) (III) (A).
Fall 2016
AURORA’S Z-ZONE PROGRAM CONSERVES AND HELPS DEVELOPERS By Tim York, Aurora Water The City of Aurora’s new Z-Zone Program has helped reduce developers’ service connection fees while encouraging conservation and creating additional cost savings. The program is still in its infancy, and already more than one million square feet of Z-Zone landscape has been created, saving a projected 9.4 million gallons of water per year. The program was implemented last year after developers and conservation staff collaborated to find cost savings and new conservation opportunities. Z-Zones are areas that include only native grass mixes or shrubs from Aurora’s approved Z-Zone plant list. There are a wide variety of grasses and shrubs to choose from, each providing a different look and feel. Z-Zones typically take approximately three years to establish but afterward require no irrigation. In Aurora’s Z-Zone program, developers willing to create a Z-Zone provide a $20,000 deposit for a separate irrigation meter, which is used for three years to establish the grasses and shrubs. During that time, staff work closely with the developer to ensure the landscape is being watered and established appropriately. At the end of that three years, if the landscape is healthy and established, the meter is returned and the developer recoups the deposit. The area then receives no additional water. If the Z-Zone has not yet fully developed, staff will grant an extension and work closely with the developer to ensure the area thrives. The program, the only one of its kind in the metro Denver area, provides substantial savings for developers, who otherwise would pay a connection fee of $2.75 per square foot of turf or $1.47 per square foot for water-conserving landscape, including trees and low-water shrubs and perennials. “Our Z-Zone program demonstrates, that through collaboration, we can find ways to encourage conservation while creating a friendly environment for development,” Lyle Whitney, Water Conservation Supervisor, said. “We expect this program to gain significant traction in upcoming years.” Right now, most of the participants are Homeowner’s Associations with large common areas that are not being used as parks or play areas. The Z-Zones not only save money on the development side, but they will also significantly reduce maintenance and water costs over time. WaterWise
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Fall 2016
BEETLE JUICE By Leslie Martien, Aquacraft It was the summer of 2014, a week before they showed up in my garden, that I said, “the day I have Japanese beetles in my garden is the day I quit gardening”. Was it prescience – maybe, or just bad luck – probably, but there they were; this beautiful, emerald-green beetle with a voracious appetite – like a wolf in sheep’s clothing. The highly destructive Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica) first showed up in Colorado in the mid-90s on the fruit crops in Palisades although it has since been nearly eradicated in that area with aggressive pest control. More recently, permanent populations have been established in areas around Denver, Boulder, and Pueblo. The adult beetles feed on a wide variety of plants, including trees such as Lindens, ornamentals such as roses, and crops such as eggplant where large numbers of beetles skeletonize leaves and completely consume blossoms and fruits. The adults typically emerge from the soil in July and August where the larvae have been developing for the past 10 months. Not only are the adult beetles destructive, but the larvae feast and fatten on turf grass roots often causing significant damage to lawns. Sadly, Japanese beetles are here to stay and without natural predators their spread is likely to continue. Although control of this insect is difficult there are things that gardeners can do to reduce their spread and lower the population. First and foremost, the beetles rely on well-irrigated soil – particularly turf areas – as a place to lay their eggs and for the larvae to pupate. The adult beetles tend to feed on plants that grow best with regular irrigation as well. If ever there was an argument for Xeriscape this is it! Beetles are most active in full sun, during the heat of the day, but are sluggish in the early morning and late evening when temperatures are cooler. This is the time to knock them off your prized rose bush and into a jar of alcohol. Avoid crushing them – crushing releases pheromones which simply attract more beetles. Beneficial nematodes and milky spore are effective against the larvae but the timing of their application is important. And, in the case of my yard, where I am surrounded by a school soccer field on one side and a golf course on the other, as Carol O’Meara, CSU Cooperative Extension Agent said, shaking her head, “It’s pretty hopeless”. Unfortunately, the wide-spread use of insecticides is harmful to birds, bees and other beneficial insects and is not recommended for residential landscapes. Fortunately, the adult beetle only feeds for a couple of months in July and August and the damage, while unsightly, is rarely fatal for the plant. I’m learning to appreciate the roses that bloom early in the summer before the beetles emerge and forgo the long-blooming varieties. I’m hoping my Linden survives the onslaught and I’ll continue to convert more and more of my yard to true Xeriscape. WaterWise
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Fall 2016
USGBC COLORADO’S GREEN SCHOOLS SUMMIT FEATURES CONSERVATION ON NOV 4TH Frank Kinder, Colorado Springs Utilities USGBC Colorado is the official Colorado entity for the United States Green Building Council, author of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building design criteria. Water quantity and quality are major areas of focus in LEED, and Colorado is a leader in achieving LEED certification. In future newsletters, CWW will feature how LEED addresses water efficiency, care, and education. This event offers exposure to implementation examples of water efficiency and protection in educational settings, which are a frequent focus and partner of utility conservation measures and projects. Green schools feature the unique ability to both house and teach future generations about conservation in safe, affordable, and effective ways. The Green Schools Summit is an annual education and networking event hosted by USGBC Colorado and organized by a dedicated group of volunteers from the Green Schools Initiative. It is Colorado’s only conference dedicated to convening green building industry professionals, school decision makers, educators and parents. The event provides a truly unique opportunity for open and productive dialogue on how to create better learning environments for our kids. Conference Theme: Beyond the Walls In addition to their positive environmental attributes, green schools support the health (physical, social, and intellectual) of students, teachers, and staff by providing a healthy, safe, comfortable, and functional physical environment. The Summit will explore how to think outside the box, or Beyond the Walls, through making connections beyond the classroom, beyond the school building, beyond the district, beyond physical and virtual borders, and beyond convention. Learn more online. WaterWise
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Fall 2016