Water Conservation in Landscapes, Athletic Fields, and Recreation Areas

Work Group Names: Sam Field, Ray Bader, Don Kelso, Jerry Warren, Brad Pierce, Skip Richter

Region: WEST Circle which primary base program it addresses - ANR

Section 1. Relevance

Where did this issue surface?

Sources where issue surfaced: Method Selected

Texas Community Futures Forum

County Committees

Commodity / Industry / Special Interest Groups

Specialist(s)

What is the issue/problem?

Increasing demands and inefficiencies of water use in landscape have adversely affected our limited water resources.

Problem size and scope? (How many people does it affect? How wide spread?)

Entire west region (urban and rural).

Problem severity? (How serious is this issue?) High

Description:

Homeowners and managers of athletic fields and recreational areas need to adopt technologies and practices that conserve water in landscapes and turf.

Target Audience? (Who does the problem impact and how many?) Residents, landscape professionals, water utilities and elected officials.

What are some general characteristics of the audience this program targets? How will you market this program to others?

Section 2. Response

Response refers to how Extension intends to address the issue by developing an educational program.

State the goal of the program.

Improve water conservation in home landscapes, athletic fields and recreation areas.

State the outcome objectives.

Client Change	At the end of this program, will....
Knowledge	increase knowledge on.... - water conserving landscape techniques
Skills	develop skills....
Attitude	change their attitudes pertaining to... - need for water conservation
Behavior Change	adopt....
New Technology	adopt.... - efficient landscape irrigation technologies
Best Practice	adopt ..... - efficient landscape irrigation practices - irrigation audits for municipal, commercial, recreational & residential turf areas.

Program Design.

Topic (Subject Matter)	Strategy to Deliver Content (Method)	Existing Resource(s)	Contact Person(s) (Includes CEA’s Specialists, Commodity Reps)
Xeriscape Principles (plants, design, maintenance)	field days, seminars, newsletters, publications, result demo, etc.	TCE publications M.G. Handbook Water Utilities Water Districts Professional Irrigation Assoc.	TCE Specialist Doug Welch- Horticulturist Horticultural Sciences Dept. CEA-Hort M.G.’s Professional Irrigation Association
Irrigation Auditing		Extension LIAM Handbook Private companies TCEQ SAFE Program	TCE Specialist -Guy Fipps and Roger Havlak
Landscape Irrigation Management		PET Web site TCE publications	TCE Specialists Guy Fipps Roger Havlak Mike Mecke TWRI
Plant Selection		Extension Publications Grow Green Web Site Plant Guide	TCE Specialist CEA Horts Horticultural Sciences Dept. Landscape Industry Professionals
Turf Management		TCE publications TWRI	TCE Specialists Roger Havlak Jim McAfee David Chalmers
Landscape Management Using Low Quality Irrigation Water		TCE publication TWRI Soil and Water Testing Lab	TAES faculty TCE Specialists Mark McFarland- Testing Lab

Section 3. Results

Client Change Level	Sample Questions (Review the objectives section to help place questions or statements in the space below)
Knowledge	- water conserving landscape techniques
Skills
Attitude	- need for water conservation
Behavior Change
New Technology	- efficient landscape irrigation technologies
Best Practice	- efficient landscape irrigation practices - irrigation audits for municipal, commercial, recreational & residential turf areas.

Economic Indicators. Are there economic indicators that can be measured concerning this issue?

YES

Please list them below.

- Decreased per capita water consumption and utility bills.

- Decreased community water infrastructure costs.

Interpretation. The last step in the process is interpreting the results to our stakeholders. List internal and external stakeholders that would be interested in the results of this educational program. Do not forget to think about other state agencies and groups that would be interested in these outcomes.

Internal to Extension Stakeholders

External Stakeholders

Administration

Specialists

Program Area Committees

Task Forces

Legislators

Local Officials

TCEQ

TWDB

TWRI

LCRA

Irrigation Districts

Regional Water Planning Groups

Industry (Landscape)

Additional Resources. What additional resources are needed to address this issue? In other words, what is needed to design innovative programs that will impact our audiences? Use the space below or the back if needed.

Sample Evaluation Questions

How is surface water regulated?

How is groundwater regulated?

What are the major and minor aquifers in Texas

What is a groundwater conservation district?

Who are retail water suppliers in Texas?

Who are wholesale water suppliers in Texas?

What is the method for planning for water needs in Texas?

What region do I live in and who are the members of that planning group?

What is a watershed?

What is my watershed address?

What activities contribute to the water quality in my watershed?

Is the water quality in my watershed requiring immediate action?

What is the primary use of the surface water in my watershed?

Why do we want to plan using a watershed management approach?

What is the Surface Water Quality Inventory and the 303(d) list of impaired waterbodies?

What are state standards for surface water quality?

Who manages surface water in my watershed?

What is stormwater?

Why is stormwater important?

What are sources of stormwater?

What sources are regulated?

What are best management practices used to control stormwater runoff

How do water suppliers and municipalities get help with infastructure improvements? Who do they go to?

What water conservation steps can be implemented in the home?

What irrigation types are available for home lawns that are considered water conserving in nature?

What landscape plants use the least water?

What are drink water standards?

How can gray water be used by homeowners an communities?

How can rainfall capture and use of cisterns be used by homeowners and landowners.

What biosecurity issues are a threat to public water sources?

How do residents keep rural wells safe?

How can a resident safely cap an old well?

Where are the abandoned wells in my community/county?

EXAMPLE #2 Water Type Questions (Post then Pre)

For each of the topics listed below, in the LEFT column, circle the ONE number that best reflects your LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING before the Quality and Quantity of Water from Rangeland Watersheds. Then, in the RIGHT column, circle the ONE number that best reflects your LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING after the Quality and Quantity of Water from Rangeland Watersheds.

LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING

Very Poor	Poor	Average	Good	Excellent
1	2	3	4	5

TOPICS	BEFORE the Program					AFTER the Program
Loss of plant cover, resulting in bare ground leads decreases water infiltration.	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5
Loss of plant cover, resulting in bare ground leads increases runoff.	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5
Loss of plant cover, resulting in bare ground leads to higher soil erosion.	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5
Maintaining adequate vegetation and litter cover to intercepts and reduces raindrop impact.	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5
Maintaining adequate vegetation and litter cover shade and stabilize soil temperatures.	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5
Maintaining adequate vegetation and litter cover increases soil organism activity.	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5
Maintaining adequate vegetation and litter cover lessens wind effects and reduces runoff.	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5
The loss of topsoil can result in drought like conditions which reduce the soil water holding capacity.	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5
The loss of topsoil can result in lower fertility and organic matter.	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5
The loss of topsoil can result in the production of sedimentation flowing into my streams, ponds or other water bodies.	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5
Soil characteristics that influence water infiltration into the soil include: antecedent moisture, bulk density, depth, slope, organic matter, soil texture, aggregate stability and soil parent material.	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5
The three major components of the rangeland water cycle that man can affect are soil, vegetation, and soil surface.	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5

EXAMPLE #3 Open ended

What is the most significant thing you learned during the Quality and Quantity of Water from

land (feel free to list more than one)?

Do you feel like what you learned today provides you the ability to analyze your land situation and make better land management decisions? (Circle the best answer)

YES NO

- Please explain your answer or provide an example.

Please provide any additional information in the space below.