Archive for “Outdoors” Category

News & Events

PLANT OF THE MONTH: LEUCOPHYLLUM OR TEXAS SAGE

August 30, 2016

Texas sages are among the most reliable and fool-proof of the low water use plants available in Arizona. In the past twenty years, many new species and varieties have been brought into cultivation. These evergreen shrubs are native to Texas and Mexico, and perform well in our desert with very little maintenance. These shrubs require full sun and good drainage. …

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Chihuahuan Sage

PLANTING THE RAIN: HYDRATING ARIZONA ONE YARD AT A TIME

August 8, 2016

Envision your dream landscape. Does it have a water-harvesting rain garden, rockwork and basins overflowing with flowering native plants? How about a greywater system feeding a fig tree or a humming pollinator garden? Once you’ve got the image—how do you bring it to life? Join Watershed Management Group (WMG) for the coolest educational series in Central Arizona to learn how …

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CELEBRATE AZ WATER WITH US AT LAKE POWELL

May 26, 2016

Lake Powell began filling in 1963 after the completion of Glen Canyon Dam on the Colorado River by the federal Bureau of Reclamation. The 710-foot-high hydroelectric dam creates the second-largest man-made lake, or reservoir, in the U.S. The lake stretches 186 miles along the Colorado River from Page, Arizona to Hite, Utah. Located within the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, the …

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AT STAKE: SECURING YOUR TREE’S FUTURE

May 20, 2016

If you’re working to make your landscape more water efficient, don’t forget to add one of many drought-tolerant trees that thrive in the Metro Phoenix area. Trees can raise property value, save energy by shading walls and windows, and make great gifts to mark special occasions. Once established, drought-tolerant trees need minimal care and only occasional deep watering at the …

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FLUSHING OUT LEAKS THAT ARE DRAINING YOUR BUDGET

March 14, 2016

Leaks are small annoyances, but those persistent little drips can add up quickly, wasting valuable water and costing homeowners money. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average U.S. home can lose up to 10,000 gallons of drinking water a year to minor leaks. Nationally, household leaks account for more than 1 trillion gallons of water wasted annually. That’s …

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FINDING LEAKS MADE EASY

March 9, 2016

Find and Fix Leaks with Scottsdale Water’s Workshops The Internet is a fantastic educational resource; however, research has shown that students overwhelmingly prefer books over electronic text. While learning about DIYs online is convenient (like when your faucet decides to noisily drip at 3 a.m.), there is just something irreplaceable about learning directly from an expert with a guide in …

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HOW TO COMBAT WATER POVERTY

March 4, 2016

We often take water for granted. Most of us expect water to flow from the tap every time we need it. If it does not, it is usually because our utility company is doing work in our neighborhood, or someone overlooked the bill. This is but a minor inconvenience that is easily remedied. Widespread water poverty in Mad Max: Fury …

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CELEBRATE AZ WATER WITH US AT TONTO CREEK

February 9, 2016

Tonto Creek flows along the northern edge of Tonto National Forest, just beneath the Mogollon Rim in central Arizona. It feeds Theodore Roosevelt Lake, and makes up one of many tributaries that flow into the Salt River. As the creek continues to flow south, forming narrow channels through rocky canyons, it meets the Hellsgate Wilderness. The foreboding wilderness name depicts …

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CELEBRATE AZ WATER: WADING IN THE BLACK RIVER

January 26, 2016

The Black River is located within the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, which runs along the Mogollon Rim and the White Mountains in east-central Arizona. It flows southwest through the White Mountains and forms the border between the Fort Apache Indian Reservation to the north, and the San Carlos Indian Reservation to the south. Upper reaches of the river, closer to the …

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TURN OFF THOSE TIMERS — BUT FOR HOW LONG?

January 18, 2016

With the super El Niño upon us, it begs the question—do I really need to be watering my landscape plants right now? Follow along by watching this video from Gilbert Digital and Gilbert Water Conservation about how to easily turn off your irrigation timer (also called an irrigation controller) before expected winter rains without disturbing your seasonal irrigation programs. How long …

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Gilbert-Digital-Landscape-Timer-Guide

RAINWATER HARVESTING: ANYONE CAN DO IT

January 7, 2016

What do you think of when you hear the term ‘water harvesting?’ Do you imagine a giant cistern collecting water? Can you envision a complicated system of pipes leading from your roof to your outdoor landscape? If so, you are completely right! What you may not realize is that there are some very simple ways that you can utilize rainwater for your …

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Rain Off Roof

CELEBRATE AZ WATER WITH US AT THE MOGOLLON RIM

December 14, 2015

The Mogollon Rim (pronounced “muggy-own”) is an extensive rocky cliff that runs 200 miles diagonally across Arizona. The powerful forces of erosion and faulting over thousands of years shape and mold this sheer cliff that represents the Southern portion of the Colorado Plateau. The high elevation provides a fantastic opportunity for breath-taking views over hundreds of miles to the east, …

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