Note: This site is for reviewing legacy plan of work data from 2007-2011. If you are looking for the current plan of work interface, visit pow.nmsu.edu.
Conservation and Efficient Use of Water
Plan Goals
Overall goal of this project is to meet present and future water demand through conservation measures that not only expand the efficient use of available water resources, but also create new water supplies.
Impact Reports
Evaluation, outcomes, and deliverables for the RGBI project are outlined in the 2007-2008 Progress Report, which is prepared annually by Texas A&M and New Mexico State University. The 2007-2008 Progress and Accomplishment Report is available on the Texas A&M web site at http://riogrande.tamu.edu. The 2008-2009 funding for this project started July, 2008, with 13 new Research and Extension projects. Additionally funding is available to Counties in the Rio Grande Basin. For a listing of new projects visit the RGBI website at http://riogrande.nmsu.edu
Based on the objective for Los Alamos County to realize a 3% decrease in residential and comercial landscape water use.
The first hard data has been analyzed with regards to water conservation in the county for the past five years. Seasonal outdoor water use has steadily decreased (42%) since the water conservation education program began in earnest in 2002. The reduction is attributed to reduced vegetation in neighborhoods affected by the Cerro Grande Fire, increased precipitation since 2002 (height of drought) and water conservation efforts made by the Agent.
The first hard data has been analyzed with regards to water conservation in the county for the past five years. Seasonal outdoor water use has steadily decreased (42%) since the water conservation education program began in earnest in 2002. The reduction is attributed to reduced vegetation in neighborhoods affected by the Cerro Grande Fire, increased precipitation since 2002 (height of drought) and water conservation efforts made by the Agent.
Based on the objectives to teach residents about proper plant selection.
Impact: As part of the Rio Grande Basin Initiative, a federal project aimed at water conservation education within the Rio Grande basin, the following activities were acomplished:
• Replacement of publication dispensers in LA Demonstration Garden
• Replanting of oasis, transitional and xeric zones in the LA Demonstration Garden
• Distribution of home water conservation kits to Girl Scouts and 4th graders in Los Alamos Public Schools
• Purchase of reference books for Mesa and White Rock Public Libraries
• Plant trials of new introductions in area nurseries and greenhouses
Impact: As part of the Rio Grande Basin Initiative, a federal project aimed at water conservation education within the Rio Grande basin, the following activities were acomplished:
• Replacement of publication dispensers in LA Demonstration Garden
• Replanting of oasis, transitional and xeric zones in the LA Demonstration Garden
• Distribution of home water conservation kits to Girl Scouts and 4th graders in Los Alamos Public Schools
• Purchase of reference books for Mesa and White Rock Public Libraries
• Plant trials of new introductions in area nurseries and greenhouses
Based on the objective to coordinate a water fair for local 4th grade students who will show a 25% gain in knowledge about water conservation.
Impact: “Make A Splash with Project WET” water festival joined educators, teachers, and students from Los Alamos Public Schools, and the San Ildefonso and Santa Clara Day Schools to spend a day learning various concepts with a theme of “Why Water Matters.” Sponsors of the event included Department of Public Utilities for Los Alamos County; Los Alamos Cooperative Extension Services, the University of New Mexico Los Alamos and New Mexico State University College of Engineering- Institute for Energy and the Environment/WERC. In addition, representatives from the State Land Office, New Mexico Environment Department–Surface Water Bureau, Bradbury Museum, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Bandelier National Monument, U.S. Fish & Wildlife, Santa Fe National Forest, as well as Los Alamos resident Robert Benjamin
The following were specific activities in which students participated:
• Rolling Rivers Trailer-Utilizing a trailer-mounted watershed model, students learned the effects of erosion and how land stewards can protect the land.
• Watershed CPR-Utilizing a tabletop watershed model, students learned how human activities can either pollute or protect natural resources.
• Conservation-Your Water Your Future-Utilizing a discovery sheet, students gathered descriptive activities posted around the festival grounds to calculate conservation efforts practiced in their daily lives.
• What’s in the Water? -Conducting hands-on activities, students learned about acids and bases, what pH is, how to test for pH and compare water tests from varied sources in the community.
• A-mazing Groundwater-Utilizing a groundwater model, students discovered what GW is, how it moves beneath the surface of the earth.
• Water Tails-Through cultural based story-telling, students learned how water affects the lives of humans and animals in New Mexico.
• Discover Your Outdoor World-Utilizing a discovery sheet, students located and journaled habitat and life-cycle data on Chihuahuan Desert flora/fauna.
• An Aquatic World-Participating in a hands-on discovery game, students learned about the NM Cutthroat Trout.
• Spill It Out-Participating in hands-on discovery, students learned the physical characteristics of water and how water spills.
• Blue Beads-Participating as a group, students enacted the components of a watershed and experienced the seasonal changes in surface water run-off and snowmelt.
“Make A Splash with Project WET” Water Festival-As reported by teachers, the students met the following::
• NM State Social Studies Standards:
Strand Geography, Content Standard II, K-4 Benchmark II-A, Performance Standards 1,2 & 3
• NM State Language Arts Standards:
Strand Reading and Listening for Comprehension, Content Standard I, K-4 Benchmark I-B, Performance Standards 1,2 &4
Strand Literature and Media, Content Standard III, K-4 Benchmark III-A
• NM State Science Standards:
Strand I, Content Standard I, Benchmark I, Performance Standards 1, 2 &4
Strand III, Content Standard I, Benchmark I, Performance Standards 1 & 2
Strand III, Perf. Standards 1, 4, 6. Strand 5, Perf. Standard 1.
Strand I: Scientific Thinking and Practice Standard I
K-4 Benchmark I: Grade 4 Performance Standards 2,3,4
K-4 Benchmark II: Grade 4 Performance Standards 1,2,3
• NM State Social Studies Standards:
Strand Geography, Content Standard II, K-4 Benchmark II-F, Performance Standard 1
Impact: “Make A Splash with Project WET” water festival joined educators, teachers, and students from Los Alamos Public Schools, and the San Ildefonso and Santa Clara Day Schools to spend a day learning various concepts with a theme of “Why Water Matters.” Sponsors of the event included Department of Public Utilities for Los Alamos County; Los Alamos Cooperative Extension Services, the University of New Mexico Los Alamos and New Mexico State University College of Engineering- Institute for Energy and the Environment/WERC. In addition, representatives from the State Land Office, New Mexico Environment Department–Surface Water Bureau, Bradbury Museum, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Bandelier National Monument, U.S. Fish & Wildlife, Santa Fe National Forest, as well as Los Alamos resident Robert Benjamin
The following were specific activities in which students participated:
• Rolling Rivers Trailer-Utilizing a trailer-mounted watershed model, students learned the effects of erosion and how land stewards can protect the land.
• Watershed CPR-Utilizing a tabletop watershed model, students learned how human activities can either pollute or protect natural resources.
• Conservation-Your Water Your Future-Utilizing a discovery sheet, students gathered descriptive activities posted around the festival grounds to calculate conservation efforts practiced in their daily lives.
• What’s in the Water? -Conducting hands-on activities, students learned about acids and bases, what pH is, how to test for pH and compare water tests from varied sources in the community.
• A-mazing Groundwater-Utilizing a groundwater model, students discovered what GW is, how it moves beneath the surface of the earth.
• Water Tails-Through cultural based story-telling, students learned how water affects the lives of humans and animals in New Mexico.
• Discover Your Outdoor World-Utilizing a discovery sheet, students located and journaled habitat and life-cycle data on Chihuahuan Desert flora/fauna.
• An Aquatic World-Participating in a hands-on discovery game, students learned about the NM Cutthroat Trout.
• Spill It Out-Participating in hands-on discovery, students learned the physical characteristics of water and how water spills.
• Blue Beads-Participating as a group, students enacted the components of a watershed and experienced the seasonal changes in surface water run-off and snowmelt.
“Make A Splash with Project WET” Water Festival-As reported by teachers, the students met the following::
• NM State Social Studies Standards:
Strand Geography, Content Standard II, K-4 Benchmark II-A, Performance Standards 1,2 & 3
• NM State Language Arts Standards:
Strand Reading and Listening for Comprehension, Content Standard I, K-4 Benchmark I-B, Performance Standards 1,2 &4
Strand Literature and Media, Content Standard III, K-4 Benchmark III-A
• NM State Science Standards:
Strand I, Content Standard I, Benchmark I, Performance Standards 1, 2 &4
Strand III, Content Standard I, Benchmark I, Performance Standards 1 & 2
Strand III, Perf. Standards 1, 4, 6. Strand 5, Perf. Standard 1.
Strand I: Scientific Thinking and Practice Standard I
K-4 Benchmark I: Grade 4 Performance Standards 2,3,4
K-4 Benchmark II: Grade 4 Performance Standards 1,2,3
• NM State Social Studies Standards:
Strand Geography, Content Standard II, K-4 Benchmark II-F, Performance Standard 1
Based on the objective to teach residents about the importance of proper plant selection to water conservation in the urban landscape, 50 participants will repot a 35% gain in knowledge following a presentation.
Impact: Four presentations on proper plant selection using Powerpoint presentation on trees, shrubs and perennials that have the potential for saving water in the landscape had 307 participants. Presentations were adapted to both the Los Alamos and White Rock areas. The presentations were made by the horticulture agent, area nurserymen and renowned xeriscapre authors. Approximately 140 Los Alamos County citizens attended the presentations. One hundred twenty-nine of the participants reported at least a 60% gain in knowledge about adapted plants. (2008)
Impact: Four presentations on proper plant selection using Powerpoint presentation on trees, shrubs and perennials that have the potential for saving water in the landscape had 307 participants. Presentations were adapted to both the Los Alamos and White Rock areas. The presentations were made by the horticulture agent, area nurserymen and renowned xeriscapre authors. Approximately 140 Los Alamos County citizens attended the presentations. One hundred twenty-nine of the participants reported at least a 60% gain in knowledge about adapted plants. (2008)