Conservation Matters To All Of Us! Really.

If there is one issue we should never be divided over, it’s water. Water is essential to all life on the planet and we shouldn’t waste it. On a globe hurling through space, carefully positioned in the cosmos to contain about 70% water, mostly in liquid form, it would seem we have plenty of the stuff. (I’m a little concerned about how fast we are travelling around our star while spinning at 1000 miles per hour!) But alas, most of the water contained in or on this rock is saltwater in the oceans. In fact, freshwater is limited to around 3% of the total water and of that, some estimates say only about 1% of that is accessible. Do the math . . .

 Keep in mind that we do have the technology to desalinate seawater effectively, and there are several countries already doing this. It’s expensive and requires tremendous amounts of energy to accomplish. The United States hasn’t yet been scared enough to give it much thought, but California is reaching the tipping point. California is now pumping so much groundwater that seawater is moving underground further inland and some wells are now pumping saltwater. The solution? Pump freshwater back into the ground to stave off the inundation of seawater! Uh . . . does anyone else see anything wrong with this picture?

 This year we have seen devastating flooding in Central Texas and in the past, we have seen the Mississippi River flood repeatedly, depositing more silt into the Gulf impeding shipping. Now, if we can construct a pipeline from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez that carries 180° crude oil across 800 miles of Alaskan tundra, why couldn’t we construct a conduit to draw off the excess water during floods from the Midwest to the Southwest? Rhetorical question, of course. In today’s political world, you know the fighting over whose water it is would never stop and the pipeline would never be built as a result. So, while I continue to dream about this alternate reality, let’s look at what’s really going on.

 Let’s just imagine for a moment that 100-year “safe yield” as they like to call it is real. Without getting into all the details, let’s say we have 100 years of freshwater available. Why would anyone care? Almost no one who is living today will be alive in 100 years. Will anyone change any of their ingrained habits like flushing the toilet 20 times a day to make sure future generations have potable water? Probably not. Will greedy developers slow down growth in anticipation of running short of water? Not likely. Will city and town councils cease to approve new development? Fat chance. If 10% of the population adopted water-saving practices, would that have any lasting effect? Not as long as 90% believe they have an unlimited supply. So, what can be done?

 Here's a thought. Let’s move to change the “safe yield” to twenty years. Or how about ten? Nothing motivates humans more than fear. Not even money. If there was a possibility of no fresh water coming out of your home faucets in ten years, I’m willing to bet you would drastically change some behavior! This would affect nearly everyone alive today. First of all, people would stop moving here in droves because development would stop. This would provide a great opportunity for those of us here already to figure out how to solve the problem. Water conservation would become a top priority and people who have a well might stop thinking they have an endless supply of water, just because they pump out of a secret pool that exists right under their property. (Yes, there are people who believe this.) We are all living off the same aquifer in this area. The cities claim they are pumping from a different aquifer because they have the money to drill so much deeper into a different layer of rock. In other words, they are pumping off the bottom of the bathtub and the rest of us are sipping from the top. As the bathtub drains, the sippers run out first, but eventually everyone loses.

 As it relates to development, I’ve heard the argument more than once that the developments that are being built now were approved ten or fifteen years ago. This is true. With that in mind, what are we doing today to make sure this doesn’t continue? I believe we are already at a level that is unsustainable. Every day I see comments and concerns from people who have only lived here a few years or months and are already concerned about water. News flash! I have lived here most of my life and we have always had discussions about water. Over 60 years! What are we doing, folks?!? The discussion is no longer about “future generations” it’s here now.

 The time has come to get behind initiatives to regulate water use and start making conservation mandatory. Not just incentivizing lawn removal or installing low-volume toilets and shower heads. Nurseries should not be selling willow or cottonwood trees because they should not be allowed to be planted here. Do I think everyone should grow only cactus and gravel? Heavens no! Most people here now moved from someplace greener. In an attempt to re-create their former home, they landscape with big leafy trees, high-maintenance shrubbery and of course, a pretty lawn. All of this can be accomplished without a high water bill or running the well dry. Buffalograss, for instance, makes a fine lawn and uses maybe a tenth of the water of bluegrass. I keep mine green all summer watering deeply only once a month. If you don’t want real grass, plant a low water use ground cover. Please don’t install artificial turf. Why? First of all, it’s plastic and most of it comes from China. Secondly, and perhaps most important, it’s hot. Really hot. I dare you to walk across turf barefoot in the middle of a summer day in the sun. You might be safer walking across hot coals. Your dog won’t go near it in the summertime. Thirdly, it looks like, well, fake grass! This doesn’t really add to the look of your nice home.

 Landscape solutions for low water use abound and are always worth considering, regardless of your budget. Working with the local ecology and watering skillfully and appropriately are keys to success. In many areas it is just as easy to over water as it is to under water due to soil conditions. The water needs of plants change over time too, so the frequency and volume of water applied at planting time needs to increase or decrease as the plants establish themselves. Whether you have a new or an existing landscape, you might benefit from a consultation with a professional who has worked in this area for decades. Give me a call.

 See You In A Landscape Near You!

The Horticoach