It’s a seasonal reward to escape to the desert in spring. With a mere 150 miles between us, we can transition from a land of snow-covered peaks and leafless trees to the radiating warmth and red-hued glow of sandstone canyons slicing through the Colorado Plateau.
For more
Check out the CSU Extension Engage website for excellent resources on gardening and landscaping: https://tinyurl.com/5ffh4ju3.
It’s hard to imagine how an element of scarcity in the high desert can be responsible for shaping such a magnificent landscape. But then again, when you imagine wind and water flowing over sandstone for 6 million years, it makes sense.
It only takes a quick glimpse in the direction of our naked peaks to know the element of scarcity is water. And this year, more than ever.
Eighteen U.S. states and Mexico rely on snowmelt from the Colorado mountains to fill rivers. With Colorado’s statewide snow water equivalent (water stored in snowpack) at 38% compared with a 40-year average, that’s a lot of people with cause for worry.
If those of us at the source are worried, imagine the concern for those at the bottom?
Water conservation is not new and novel, but its priority is increasing. Just as we can’t imagine water carving the Grand Canyon, we probably can’t imagine turning on the faucet without an ensuing stream of that lovely H2O.
For some, anxiety peaks in the presence of snakes, spiders or heights. For me, it’s not having enough water. My family pokes fun at me for carrying what they deem as excessive amounts of water on every outdoor excursion. But as my husband always says, I’d rather be looking at it, than looking for it. Are you with me?
While we can look to the skies for rain and snow, we might have to accept that we get what we get. What will matter is what we do with the water we have.
On average, one-third of household water use is applied to landscapes. That makes landscaping an easy target for water conservation. One approach that allows flexibility in landscape design, including a preference for grassy lawns, is the installation of Smart Irrigation Controllers.
These systems can reduce residential landscape water use by 20% to 50%. By measuring soil moisture, monitoring real-time weather or evaporation rates, they adjust watering schedules to meet the needs of plants.
Fixing leaky faucets is another low-hanging fruit in water conservation. A faucet that loses 60 drops of water a minute will waste 192 gallons of water a month. That’s enough water to keep you hydrated until November!
Maybe you’ve wrangled with this question, too. How do you prepare an empty peanut butter jar for recycling without using more resources than it’s worth? 1) Scrape with a spatula, 2) Soak with soapy (gray) water for two days, 3) Shake vigorously and 4) Wipe with a rag already destined for the washing machine. Too much effort? Weirded out by the feel of wet peanut butter? Then don’t recycle this one; it’s not worth the water.
Ironically, I was just informed the Extension building would have the water turned off for some maintenance work. Gulp! My heart rate elevated instantly and I’m suddenly very thirsty. But don’t you worry about me. Writing this column has prepared me for just this kind of situation. I’m a committed water conservationist! I will survive this 30-minute drought.
The question is: Are we as a community doing what we can for the longer haul?
Nicole Clark is director of La Plata County Extension Office. Reach her at nclark@lpcgov.org.
