Several weeks into the implementation of stage 1 water restrictions in Durango, water-dependent businesses say impacts have been minimal so far – and some are reporting surprising positives.
The restrictions, put in place April 10 by the city of Durango, are intended to curb the impacts of a drought-plagued year.
Restrictions include lawn watering and irrigation being limited to specific days and times for residents and businesses, among other stipulations.
Brooke Safford, owner of Blooming Landscape and Design, LLC, said business has actually improved for the company since restrictions were put in place.
“We’re actually getting a lot of calls from people who want us to remove their lawns because of the water restrictions,” she said. “So, in a way, if anything, it’s increased our business. … People are like, ‘Oh, well, maybe I should get rid of some of my lawn so I don't have to use so much water.’”
Other Blooming Landscape customers haven’t seemed phased by the restrictions, and many are still hiring the company to do regular pre-summer landscaping on their properties, she said.
One customer nearly changed her mind about work she wanted done on a small planting bed because of worries about watering restrictions, but she ended up going ahead with the planting, Safford said.
“In some ways, I think (the restrictions have) been good … for folks just to kind of reflect on their water usage,” she said.
Safford said the business has long included water conservation efforts in its landscaping work, including planting drought-tolerant plants, harvesting rainwater and working on reducing the amount of irrigation water used. She said that has prepared Blooming Landscape and Design well for the restrictions.
Cathy Metz, a member of the Durango Botanic Gardens board of directors, said the Botanic Gardens has also long-planned for restrictions like these.
“We’ve really focused a lot over the last several years on climate change in our educational programs with the public, and encouraging drought‑resistant plants,” she said. “We’ve sort of gotten ahead of this by really thinking about taking out grass and replacing it with more water‑wise beds.”
The restrictions are influencing the gardens’ irrigation schedule, but not threatening operations, Metz said.
The gardens are on a twice per week irrigation schedule now, instead of the usual three times weekly – but it’s been proven in past years that the reduced watering schedule is enough for the plants, she said.
The restrictions provide flexibility around drip and hand-watering, Metz said, which has also helped keep the plants quenched without violating regulations.
“We’re very hopeful that we can show that even in this tough situation we’re experiencing this summer, the plants in the Botanic Gardens look good and are thriving, staying alive,” she said. “They may not be as robust and maybe not flowering as much as we’ve seen in the past with higher volumes of water, but we’re very optimistic they’ll make it through the summer and into next year.”
Hillcrest Golf Club General Manager Michael McCloskey said the golf course has adjusted its watering routines to align with restrictions, and that the grass is starting to show signs of stress as a result. Still, business has remained steady.
“Just because the golf course may be a little more brown than green, you can still play golf on it,” he said. “At this stage, fortunately, (there’s been) no impact to the general business or play. But the situation is one of those that goes day by day, week by week, month by month.”
The warmer-than-usual weather this spring has drawn high numbers of customers to the course since it opened a month ago, and recent rain showers have helped the grass get some of the moisture it may be missing since restrictions went into effect, McCloskey said – but how business might fare as summer sets in remains a bit of a question mark for Hillcrest.
“Where I would say (there) might be shock or concern might be … during our tourism time of the year – June, July, August,” he said. “Maybe (tourists) will come on site and go, ‘Wow, the golf course looks a little dry, or looks a little burned out.’ They may just not have that perspective (locals have).”
Landscaping and plant-heavy businesses aren’t the only ones shifting operations as a result of the water restrictions.
Brennan McManamon, president of Gazpacho Restaurant on East Second Avenue, said the restaurant has intentionally refrained from bringing customers glasses of water for the last month unless they ask for them as a water conservation measure.
The city of Durango encourages food and drink businesses to follow this model even when water restrictions are not in place, according to the city’s website.
“Surprisingly, many guests don’t even touch their water, so it made sense for us,” McManamon told the Herald in an email. “Almost all of our customers have been supportive, and we’ve had nearly zero pushback even though we serve pretty spicy food! What I appreciate most is that it’s a recommendation (from the city) rather than a mandate; that flexibility goes a long way.”
The practice has also been helpful for staff, he said.
“With ongoing staffing challenges, this practice has been a small but welcome timesaver,” he said. “It takes a bit off the routine when seating guests and reduces the need to bus full or untouched glasses for washing.”
epond@durangoherald.com
