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Conservation and Efficient Use of Water (Valencia County)

Plan Goal

The overall goal of this project is to meet present and future water demands in Valencia County by demonstrating conservation measures that not only expand the efficient use of available water resources, but also create new water supplies.

Situation Statement

Research and Extension are instrumental in ensuring future water availability for agriculture, cities, and the environment. In Valencia County, 2008 and 2009 county needs assessments indicated a need for Extension education program development in the conservation and efficient use of water. Rapid population growth throughout the Rio Grande Basin will further stress limited water resources already constrained by salinity and other water quality problems. In Valencia County alone, population growth has increased at nearly 1.5% per year, subsequently increasing demands making efficient water use a must. Currently, irrigated agriculture accounts for the majority of water use in the region, however with increasing human populations urban irrigators must also use water more efficiently. Because the majority of Valencia County's population resides in an urban setting, Extension education efforts in effective conservation and use of water target home garden and landscape settings. Funded by a grant from the Rio Grande Basin Initiative (RGBI), a rainwater harvesting and water wise gardening demonstration was developed at the Valencia County Extension Office. Team administrator members for this project include Craig Runyan, Water Quality Coordinator and Leeann DeMouche, Water Resource Specialist. The RGBI is a joint project of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service and the College of Agriculture and Home Economics at New Mexico State University. All work and materials are based upon work supported by the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture.

Target Audience and Actions

The target audience is composed of home-owners, gardeners, business owners, educators, and other entities interested in ideas on how to implement urban water conservation measures intended to expand the efficient use of available water resources, and create new/alternative water supplies.

A rainwater harvesting and waterwise gardening demonstration was installed at the Valencia County Cooperative Extension Service Office: 404 Courthouse Rd. in Los Lunas, New Mexico. Volunteers from the Valencia County Extension Master Gardener (VCEMG) program installed gutters on the south side of the building to collect and direct stormwater runoff from the 1,800 square foot roof to five 55 gallon rain barrels. Water collected by these gutters is being used to irrigate container gardens using the ancient olla (clay pot) form of irrigation brought into the American southwest by Spanish settlers and adopted by Native Americans for its benefits to growing crops in the arid regions of New Mexico. Drought tolerant and water-wise plants were selected to demonstrate the variety of plants available for use in urban landscape in Valencia County. Free rainwater harvesting and water wise gardening educational materials are available to the public. In addition, publicity through brochures, local media, newspapers, and NMSU publications will be conducted.

Short-term (1-3 months)activities include the installation of gutters, irrigation pots, planters, storage tanks, and the selection and planting of plants adapted to the Valencia County environment prior to the growing season and monsoonal precipitation patterns.

Medium-term activities (4-5 months) include the development of educational materials based upon work supported by the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture. Such materials include a brochure to be distributed at the Valencia Extension office, local businesses, VCEMG plant clinics, and public facilities. The brochure includes information on the RGBI, a plant list, background on the problem and potential solutions, directions to the demonstration, and a list of internet resources.

Long-term activities (5-12 months) include local and University wide articles.

Short-Term Objectives

Short-Term Objectives (1-3 months):
After partipating in the assembly of the water supply unit, VCEMG will be able to report they are able to tell clintele how to create a similar water unit.

Medium-Term Objectives

Medium-term objectives (4-5 months) include changes in landscaping practices and an increase in community awareness of alternative water resources for home landscape irrigation. Five to ten community members will request further information on rainwater harvesting, plant selection, or effective irrigation methods. One to 2 community members will adopt similar landscape/gardening systems at their home or business.

Long-Term Objectives

Long-term objectives (6-24 months) include an increased range of awareness (i.e. local/regional newspaper subscribers) and continued support of individuals wanting to adopt similar landscape water supply units on their home/business.
Ten to twenty community members will request further information on rainwater harvesting, plant selection, or effective irrigation methods. Two to 5 community members will adopt similar landscape/gardening systems at their home or business.

Evaluation Plan

The number of personal visits, e-mails, phone calls, demonstration tours, and disseminated publications and brochures will provide a rough estimate of the level of community interest, participation, and overall impact of the demonstration. In addition, personal communication with community members and questionares filled out by VCEMG members will provide an assessment of changes in attitude, behavior, and knowledge in alternative urban irrigation sources, methods, and landscape plant selection.