Water: Conserving Now, Planning for the Future

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• Water Conserving Now, Planning for the
  Future
• An Introduction to
  GreenCOs Best Management Practices and
  Opportunities for Integration
• 87th CML Annual Conference
  Vail, Colorado
• Brenda OBrien
• GreenCO Project Manager
• brenda.obrien_at_comcast.net
• 303-973-4026

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What is GreenCO? An alliance of eight
organizations representing the common interests
of eight landscape-related trades

• Represents over 2,500 member companies
• 40,000 employees throughout Colorado
• Green Industry contributes nearly 2.4 billion/yr
  to Colorados economy

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GreenCOs Water Mission
Mission To inform, encourage, and instill
the practice of sound water use across Colorado
and ensure that built landscapes remain an
essential foundation of Colorados quality of
life, economic health and public image.
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Green Industry and Water Conservation Why Does
it Matter?

• Water is a limited resource.
• Water use increases with population growth.
• Improving urban water use efficiency aids in
  meeting increased demand.
• Using less water to satisfy a particular
  purpose- does not mean eliminating attractive
  landscapes.
• Sustainable growth is critical to the green
  industry.
• One opportunity to get it right quality design,
  proper installation and on-going maintenance.

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GreenCO Basic Principles

• Healthy landscapes enhance water quality and the
  environment.
• Over-irrigation is the primary source of water
  waste in landscaping.
• Prevent/reduce pollution by controlling it at its
  source, rather than correcting its impacts.
• Improved water quality and conservation are
  dependent on behavior changes.
• Well designed and maintained
• landscapes are key components
• of sustainable communities.

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The Attractive, Healthy, Water Efficient,
Sustainable Landscape
Planning and design Soil improvement Hydrozoning/
Water Budgeting Practical turf areas Efficient
irrigation Mulching Appropriate maintenance
Nursery/Grower/ Retail Practices
Xeriscape Principles
Related Practices (buffer zones, drainageways,
parks)
Mowing Aeration Lawn Waste Disposal Herb. Plant
Care Fertilizer/Pest./Chemicals Drought Practices
Education Internal External
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Evolution of GreenCOs Water Mission

• 2002
• Worked together with many partners to compile
  industry BMPs
• Developed initial GreenCO BMP Manual
• 2004
• Updated BMP Manual
• Developed training program
• Spanish release
• 2008
• Revised and expanded Manual
• Began development of broader sustainability focus

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Best Management Practices

• For our purposes, Best Management Practices are
• Voluntary activities undertaken to reduce water
  consumption and protect water quality.
• Term is widely used by many local, state and
• government agencies.

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Efforts Supported by Many Partners

• Colorado Water Conservation Board
• Funded 2008 release
• Governors Office of Energy Management and
  Conservation
• Colorado State University
• Colorado State University Cooperative Extension
• Colorado Water Resources Research Institute
• Colorado WaterWise
• Denver Water
• CDPHE Non-Point Source Program
• CDPHE Pollution Prevention Partnership
• Irrigation Association
• Wright Water Engineers, Inc.

Governor Bill Owens 2005 Proclamation of Support
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GreenCO BMP Manual

• 3rd Release May 2008
• Voluntary practices to
• reduce landscape water use
• protect water quality
• promote sustainable landscaping
• These practices are the industry standard
• Basis of training program
• Available in English and Spanish
• CD sent to all members
• Complimentary manual sent to 150 water suppliers
  in CO
• Accompanied by the Opportunities for
  Integration into Conservation Plans packet

Download at www.greenco.org
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GreenCO BMP Training Program

• 2-hour overview based on BMP Manual
• Exam on manual
• 100 questions
• Open book
• 2-hour time limit
• 75 passing score
• Cost to attend
• 75 for GreenCO members
• 150 for non-GreenCO members
• Certificate of completion
• Recognition on GreenCO website with links to
  municipalities and others

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Integration of BMPs into Local Practice

• Complimentary BMP Manual and Integration Packet
  Jan 2009
• CWCB values water supplier and green industry
  partnership
• CWCB encourages BMP integration into conservation
  plans
• Used in development of local ordinances
• Leverage BMP Training Program
• Outdoor water use efficiency plan pre-packaged
  for you
• Adjust to meet the needs of your community

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CWCBs Nine-Steps to Developing Water
Conservation Plans

• Profile existing water system
• Characterize water use and forecast demand
• Profile proposed facilities
• Identify conservation goals
• Identify conservation measures and programs
• Evaluate and select conservation measures and
  programs
• Integrate resources and modify forecasts
• Develop implementation plan
• Monitor, evaluate and revise conservation
  activities and the conservation plan

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Which Steps Apply?

• Landscape efficiency
• Low water-use landscapes
• Drought resistant vegetation
• Efficient irrigation
• Equipment
• Scheduling
• Education
• Information
• Dissemination
• Regulation
• Ordinance
• Soil amendment
• Landscape design

• Profile existing water system
• Characterize water use and forecast demand
• Profile proposed facilities
• Identify conservation goals
• Identify conservation measures and programs
• Evaluate and select conservation measures and
  programs
• Integrate resources and modify forecasts
• Develop implementation plan
• Monitor, evaluate and revise conservation
  activities and the conservation plan

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Relationship for BMP and Conservation Goals

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Integration of BMPs into Local Practice
BMPs are setting the standard for built
landscapes in Colorado.
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Accomplishments

• 600 Seal of Knowledge recipients to date
• field professionals from green industry
  businesses, municipalities, metro districts,
  utilities, parks, towns, schools, correctional
  facilities, churches, hospitals, and home
  builders have attended.
• Delivered annually at ProGreen EXPO
  (www.progreenexpo.com)
• Partnered with CWW members to sponsor sessions.
• GreenCO BMPs incorporated into various city
  landscape ordinances and Metro Mayors Caucus
  outdoor BMPs.
• BMP certificate required to work in the Town of
  Castle Rock.

View recipients at www.greenco.org
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BMP Testimonials

• Water Conservation in Colorado must become a way
  of life, all the time, not just in times of
  drought. - Green Industries of Colorado
  (GreenCO) Board of Directors
• The revised BMPs include much new material. The
  more communities that require landscape
  professionals to follow the BMPs, the better the
  attention to resource-efficient design,
  installation and on-going maintenance.
• - Larry Lesser, Certified Arborist, LEED,
  Centennial, CO
• The cities intent in reaching out to GreenCO is
  to establish the BMPs as the standard for built
  landscapes in their communities.
• - Stu Feinglas, Conservation Specialist,
  City of Westminster, CO
• GreenCOs BMP training program raises awareness
  and gets more qualified people to help the
  industry conserve even more water. Every gallon
  of water we conserve today, is a gallon we don't
  have to find somewhere else tomorrow. We all need
  to work together to make this happen.
• - Rick Schultz, Conservation Specialist,
  Town of Castle Rock, CO
• The green industry is in a unique positionit
  gets to be creative and innovative, leading the
  way toward sustainability. The BMPs are gaining
  momentum and are good for business and the
  environment.
• - Jane Clary, Wright Water Engineers,
  Inc., BMP Author, Denver, CO

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GreenCO is committed to working with water
providers, cities, municipalities, and all key
stakeholders on BMP adoption and integration.
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BMP Collaboration
Collectively, these organizations are actively
working on building a BMP Toolkit for easy
adoption and implementation in Colorados
communities.
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Questions?Brenda OBrienbrenda.obrien_at_comcast
.net303.973.4026 www.greenco.org