A landscape that embodies the watershed approach to design is considered sustainable and resilient. Such an approach is a deviation from traditional designs of turf-dominated landscapes that are water and energy intensive. The watershed approach promotes a balance between resource efficiency and protection, environmental stewardship and quality of life. And it asserts that landscapes that integrate elements of healthy watersheds will generate multiple benefits while reducing their overall water demand. These benefits include:
1) Foster Living Soils.
Photo by Pete Veilleux, East Bay Wilds
Integrate Compost – improve soil health, productivity, water retention capacity, and carbon sequestration value
Mulch the Top-layer – limit water lost to evaporation
Reduce or Eliminate Pesticides & Herbicides – allow critical soil microbes to reproduce and thrive, limit human and animal exposure to harmful chemicals entering landscapes, and cut landscape input costs
De-Compact Soils – allow subsurface air and water flow, plant growth, and water storage
2) Conserve Water and Stretch Potable Water Supplies.
Photo by Pete Veilleux, East Bay Wilds
Use Permeable Landscape Materials – clean and absorb water, recharge groundwater, and limit the need for supplemental irrigation
Capture and Retain Rainwater – limit the need for supplemental irrigation, and reduce stormwater runoff
Consider Graywater – limit the need for supplemental irrigation, and reduce wastewater flow
Minimize Supplemental Irrigation – augment natural supply only when needed with efficient devices at appropriate times
3) Select and Properly Install Appropriate Plant and Landscape Materials.
Photo by Pete Veilleux, East Bay Wilds
Use the Right Plant at the Right Place and Right Time – choose non-invasive, native or climate-appropriate plants for a specific climate and geography; space plants for mature size; and plant in the appropriate seasons to help build soils, conserve water, and provide habitat.
CalWEP is a Professional Certifying Organization for Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper training, which offers an affordable, proactive, local approach to reducing water demand.
Learn moreCalWEP has partnered with the Water Efficiency Trust and community-based non-profit Daily Acts to launch Watershed Approach to Sustainable Landscaping program for residents of disadvantaged communities in the San Joaquin Valley region of California. This 4-phase campaign helps improve accessibility to outdoor water conservation programs and improve community.
Access to a short, yet comprehensive, and easy to understand educational document on the proper maintenance of water wise landscapes is needed to achieve agency’s objective of reaching a greater sector of the landscape workforce and further bolster their landscape water efficiency education efforts. In order to optimize the number of end-users and maintain universal appeal, this guide will utilize symbols, simple images and emojis, rather than text. This approach helps to overcome language barriers that are a substantial challenge faced in areas where the majority of the landscape workforce is comprised primarily of Spanish speakers.
