Colorado Green Magazine

The latest ALCC news, including Colorado Green NOW articles, legislative updates, and programming announcements. 

Colorado Water Plan initiatives are making water-wise landscapes a reality Email
Written by Jenna Battson   
Tuesday, July 09, 2024 12:00 AM

Colorado Green Now

Since the Colorado Water Plan (Water Plan) launched in January 2023, the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) has worked diligently to advance and implement the plan’s 50 Agency Actions. This effort has led to significant progress in the transformative landscape change space outlined in the Water Plan and in Agency Action 1.7. Advancements include key strategies that speak to the CWCB’s commitment to this work, including managing the state’s first Turf Replacement Program, leading a first-of-its-kind Urban Landscape Conservation Task Force and granting over $1 million for continued landscape transformation efforts.

Immediately following the release of the Water Plan, the CWCB launched the Turf Replacement Program, which helped 50 eligible entities across Colorado advance trans formative landscape change in their communities. Awarded entities could either create turf replacement incentive programs or identify specific water-intensive areas to convert to drought-resistant and water-wise landscapes.

The CWCB also led a year-long Urban Landscape Conservation Task Force, which released a final report in January 2024. The report, synthesizing insight from industry leaders across the state, incorporates recommendations from the 21 task force members to advance landscape transformation beyond turf removal efforts to address additional research needs and complementary initiatives. These include supporting prohibitions on nonfunctional turf installations, continuing education and outreach around the benefits of xeriscape, and partnering with the landscape industry to promote water-wise landscapes.

In September 2023, the CWCB Board awarded Resource Central a $1.5 million Water Plan Grant, the largest ever awarded in the water conservation category. The grant will help accelerate transformative landscape change across the state through turf removal and replacement. Resource Central is also working with the CWCB to launch a Trans formative Landscape Change (TLC) Challenge to increase local examples of water-wise landscapes. Resource Central will work directly with up to 15 local communities to replace maintained high-water-use turf in highly visible areas with functional irrigation systems and Garden in a Box kits filled with drought- tolerant perennials. The application window closed on June 1.

While much has been accomplished relatively quickly in the transformative landscape change space, CWCB is still hard at work.

Forthcoming initiatives range from working with partners to develop a do-it-yourself guide for home turf replacement to managing another round of funding for the Turf Re placement Program. To stay updated on these initiatives and learn about new efforts (once available), please visit engagecwcb.org.

Read more in this issue of Colorado Green Now:

Hot and dry conditions the summer could push the state to drought status

Colorado water communities unite to create new water ethic

 

 
Hot and dry conditions in the summer could push the state to drought status Email
Written by Colorado Green Now   
Monday, July 08, 2024 12:00 AM

Colorado Green Now

It took until June, but Colorado’s very average snowpack has officially melted away from all 115 federal snow monitoring stations in the state. According to a Water Conditions Monitoring Committee, the reservoir levels are at 94%, just below average, while precipitation was at exactly 100% of the 30-year median.

Heat, however, has been on the rise. Even summer showers may not be enough to combat its effects or to keep the state away from drought.

The entire state is at risk of developing drought this summer. A strong monsoon would be helpful. It would limit the risk of worsening drought, particularly over the Four Corners. For now, it’s looking like that is not as likely, and that it’s going to continue to be a pretty rough summer.

Climate experts track precipitation, temperature, soil moisture, and other factors year-round to gauge water supplies and storage for farmers, city utility managers, reservoir operators and residents around the state.

This year’s outlook has some of those water users looking out for impacts on fish populations, recreation opportunities, irrigation supplies and wildfires.

Without much rain, wildfires will be a pretty serious concern. The period from October 2023 through May ranked in the top 10 warmest time periods across a significant majority of the state when compared with a 129-year historical record.

Areas of southeastern Colorado, like Lamar and La Junta, have already reported 20 or more days over 90 degrees. The Front Range has already had 10-15 days over 90 degrees. Most of the country is also likely to be hotter than usual for the rest of the summer. That’s quite the switch after last year, which started out with cooler-than-average months.

The hotter temperatures are likely to continue for the rest of the summer. Western Colorado and the Four Corners area have a 70%-80% chance of above-average temperatures.

Colorado’s stream and river levels are receding after a normal runoff year, and incoming precipitation will be increasingly helpful for water users in the late summer and early fall. Although the state has seen average precipitation so far, there’s a 40%-50% chance rainfall will tumble below normal levels for July through September.

Some areas, like Fort Collins and Burlington, have seen less-than-average rainfall so far. Even with some rain in the near-term forecast for early July, it will be hard for these areas to end the water year, which closes Sept. 30, at the average level.

The combination of hot and dry weather could make it harder for areas of the state that are already experiencing drought conditions to recover, and it could mean that more areas fall into drought.

About 16% of the state is experiencing drought conditions. That is vastly better than in late 2020 and early 2021, when the entire state was in drought and over 20% was in the most severe drought category. At that level, agricultural and recreational economic losses are large, reservoirs are low, large fires can develop, and mandatory water restrictions are often implemented, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

There is a slightly increased risk for drier extremes in the southern part of the state, which really means there would be a low likelihood that any drought that worsens or develops in the summer is not going to see relief through the fall.

In the Upper Rio Grande River Basin, biologists are keeping an eye on the water temperatures and water levels on the Rio Grande and Conejos rivers for Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

Brown trout and rainbow trout flourish when water is about 50 degrees but struggle when it rises above 70 degrees. At that level, their immune systems become stressed, and catch-and-release fishing can lead to higher fish mortality.

If stream levels fall below 50% of the norm, and if temperatures rise above 70 degrees, Biologists may implement voluntary or emergency fishing closures.

Several city water managers said their reservoir storage supplies were looking good during the water conditions meeting. Colorado Springs Utilities reservoirs were at 85% of their capacity, and Denver Water’s reservoirs were 97% full.

The lack of monsoons would heighten concerns over wildfire risk or lead to a shorter rafting season for boaters. Less-than-average rainfall could also leave sections of the river dry as water gets pulled for other uses, like irrigation and municipal supplies.

Read more in this issue of Colorado Green Now:

Colorado Water Plan initiatives are making water-wise landscapes a reality

Colorado water communities unite to create new water ethic

 
2024 End of Session GreenCO Email
Written by Colorado Green Now   
Thursday, June 20, 2024 12:00 AM

Colorado Green Now

The 2nd Regular Session of the 74th General Assembly adjourned on May 9th. Hicks & Associates is pleased to present this report on the activities of the legislature in 2024. Session Overview: The 2024 Legislative Session convened on January 10th. Despite over 100 bills being introduced on day one, primarily from interim committees, the session started slowly, with the first committee hearings taking a few weeks to commence. In the initial week, speeches from leadership in both chambers and the Governor’s State of the State address outlined priorities for the session. With Democrats holding the majority in both chambers and the Governor’s office, there was a strong alignment on issues such as workforce development, education, cost of living/housing, water, public safety, and climate change. Read full article here. 

Read more in this issue of Colorado Green Now:

The Importance of Contacting 811

Keep your culture strong

 
How AI is transforming the landscape industry Email
Written by Katherine DeGaine   
Monday, May 27, 2024 12:00 AM

Colorado Green NowArtificial intelligence (AI) is taking the world by storm, and it will play a big role in building, scaling and evolving the landscape industry. 

For landscape architects, AI algorithms can analyze terrain, climate data and customer preferences to generate automated landscape designs, streamlining the planning process, ensuring designs are tailored to specific environmental conditions and providing customers with the exact experience they are looking for. AI-equipped drones can conduct aerial surveys to quickly analyze a site, monitor plants and even create 3D models that assist with design and planning.

One of the best ways a landscape business can implement AI is in lead generation using platforms that allow AI chatbots to nurture leads and set appointments for sales associates and estimators.

“In an industry where competition is high and differentiation can be challenging, leveraging AI in lead generation not only improves the quantity and quality of leads but also contributes significantly to a company’s overall growth and success,” says Kyle Hendrix, operations manager for Comet Suite, AI-powered lead-generation and prospecting software. Letting AI generate and manage leads leaves more time for employees to focus on converting those leads into actual customers, he adds. “AI-powered lead-generation and prospecting software like Comet Suite is essential for landscaping companies looking to combine the power of hyper-personalization and the efficiency of a targeted approach, allowing you to focus on the leads most likely to convert and reducing the time needed to prospect and submit bids.”

Every business understands the importance of customer relations, and AI can assist with that, too, with solutions ranging from call centers to customer relations management and even predictive market trend analysis based on historical data and customer behavior. “The software’s personalization feature tailors marketing messages to individual prospects, improving engagement and conversion rates,” Hendrix says. “This customization helps landscape companies forge stronger client relationships while boosting loyalty and distinguishing them in a competitive market."

AI in the field

AI is also being incorporated in the field. Robotic lawn mowers like the Husqvarna Automower and EcoFlow Blade can operate on their own when given specific parameters. Because they can mow just under an acre on a single charge, they’re best suited for residential use at the moment, but AI technology is advancing quickly. 

AI-operated irrigation control systems can monitor and control the amount of water needed to efficiently irrigate and help manage resources for large agricultural grows by optimizing planting, irrigation and fertilization based on real-time data, reducing resource waste and improving yields. AI is able to improve operations by harnessing internet and satellite data, adjusting for weather conditions, soil moisture level and specific plant requirements to optimize the system’s efficiency and contribute to sustainability overall. AI-powered sensors can be employed to monitor the health of plants, irrigation systems and other landscape elements. By collecting and analyzing data from various sources, landscape companies can make more informed decisions on plant selection, resource assignment and scheduling maintenance.

Read more in this issue of Colorado Green Now:

A drought-tolerant garden: step by step

Now's the time to plant

 
The H-2B “may” to “shall” amendment just passed Email
Written by Plant Select   
Monday, May 27, 2024 12:00 AM

Colorado Green Now

Great news! Thanks for all your help in pushing this out to our representatives. 

The H-2B “may” to “shall” amendment just passed by a voice vote in the DHS Appropriations Markup.

We are grateful to Reps. Harris (R-MD), Pingree (D-ME), Moolenaar (R-MI), Cuellar (D-TX), Joyce (R-OH) and Ruppersberger (D-MD) for their leadership in sponsoring the amendment. We thank the congress members who spoke in support of the amendment. Please make sure to thank them if you have a close relationship with their offices.

The amendment states:

SEC. 406. Notwithstanding the numerical limitation set forth in section 214(g)(1)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1184(g)(1)(B)), the Secretary of Homeland Security, after consultation with the Secretary of Labor, and upon determining that the needs of American businesses cannot be satisfied during fiscal year 2025 with United States workers who are willing, qualified, and able to perform temporary nonagricultural labor x , shall increase the total number of visas available to qualifying aliens under section 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(b) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(b)) in such fiscal year above such limitation by the highest number of H–2B nonimmigrants who participated in the H–2B returning worker program in any fiscal year in which returning workers were exempt from such numerical limitation.

Congressman Harris introduced the amendment and the following folks spoke in support of the amendment:

Amodei

Underwood

Kaptur

Joyce

Bishop

Pingree

Congressman Pocan spoke against the amendment and stated some concerns with the program.

The amendment was passed by a voice vote. Thank you all for your grassroots efforts.

 

 

 

 
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