Arizona’s legacy of carefully managing its water supplies over the years isn’t so much about preparing for drought. Not precisely. More than anything, it has been about Arizonans taking control of their own destiny. The years devoted to planning and investing from the creation of engineering water-delivery marvels like the Salt River Project, irrigation projects in the Yuma area, and …
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The story of water in the Salt River Valley began more than a thousand years ago, with a group of people we call the Hohokam. The Hohokam lived in the Valley from approximately A.D. 450 to 1450, and constructed a complex network of canals and laterals to support their agriculture. When the first American settlers arrived more than 400 years …
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When it comes to water, quantity is a big issue these days – but quality is always a top priority, as well. That’s why, more than 15 years ago, the Valley’s water quality experts created Tap Into Quality (TIQ) as a resource where residents could easily learn more about the quality of their water. The resulting public education campaign is supported by …
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In the Spring of 2016, Water – Use It Wisely, along with our fabulous promotional partners, including Ewing Irrigation & Landscape Supply, the Arizona Nursery Association and its Plant Something campaign, and the Arizona Landscape Contractors Association, gave away a backyard makeover through a promotion with ABC15 TV. A remarkable 10,901 of you entered to win the Drab-to-Fab Backyard Rehab …
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Shrinking to its lowest point since Hoover Dam was completed in 1936, Lake Mead has dropped to a surface level of 1074.03 feet above sea level – with a Colorado River shortage declaration looming as soon as the next couple of years. Arizona’s water managers have planned and prepared for a Colorado River shortage for decades. What worries them are …
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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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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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Healthy, vibrant forests can feed our thirst for water. Did you know that Arizona’s forests play an important role in providing the Valley’s drinking water? Arizona’s forests and the downstream desert cities are all part of the same watershed. Watersheds link all living things by their common water source. Yet, the path water takes from watershed to showerhead can be …
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Are you willing to take a risk with your landscape investment? Whether you’re the type of person who loves a do-it-yourself project or you’d rather hire a pro, making the switch to a beautifully designed and installed Xeriscape landscape is a visible investment that can be very rewarding and lead to a substantial return. Finding the right resources to help …
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DOES YOUR LANDSCAPE HAVE A DRINKING PROBLEM? Water is a precious resource—and even more so in the desert climate of Arizona, which has been under drought conditions for 16 years. In the Valley, up to 70% of our water use is outdoors, and about half of the water we put in our landscape often goes to waste. Help your yard …
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April is dedicated to earthly celebrations and awareness events, such as Water Awareness Month (in Arizona), Arbor Day, and Earth Day. National Arbor Day is celebrated on the last Friday in April. However, many states observe Arbor Day on different dates to coincide with the most favorable local tree planting times. This year National Arbor Day is April 29. The first …
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Oenotheras, also known as Evening Primrose, are spreading or clumping groundcovers, native to the plains, grasslands and deserts of North America. They have large, showy four-petaled flowers in pink, white, or yellow, and create carpets of bright color in desert landscapes. Oenotheras are generally night-blooming plants, but most will stay open until midday. These widely adapted plants can be used …
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