From the Green Industry Alliance San Antonio, Texas Speakers: Mike Brown and Kelly Hall Presented at...

From the Green Industry Alliance San Antonio, Texas Speakers: Mike Brown and Kelly Hall Presented at Tree Source Wholesale Nursery Houston, Texas September 13, 2011

Welcome to the story of water in Texas

Hot off the Press.. http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local &id=8194899 http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local &id=8194899

From the Headlines. Mayor bans grilling at Houston parks Drought forces more restrictions By MIKE MORRIS, HOUSTON CHRONICLE Updated 08:38 p.m., Friday, September 9, 2011 The mayor asked city residents to voluntarily reduce lawn watering to twice a week in June, then made the restrictions mandatory Aug. 16.

From the Headlines.. A sad scene City parks Director, Joe Turner surveyed city park land from a police helicopter this week and said: it was sadly easy to spot the city parks by their brown canopies; Houston's municipal parks, unlike residents' properties, have no sprinkler systems. "They're just timber, just waiting to catch on fire," Turner said. City parks workers are counting dead trees to estimate how much money - $280 to $300 per tree - will be needed to remove them. Parker said she has freed up more cash for the parks department to respond to the drought. The mayor urged residents to use the city's 311 customer service hotline to report trees that have died and may be a safety risk.

From the Headlines.. Save your lawn with this formula By KATHY HUBER, GARDEN WRITER Published 12:45 p.m., Friday, September 9, 2011 The studies show it takes 910 of an inch of water per week to maintain a stress-free lawn in a typical August and 810 of an inch in an average September in Houston. That's about an inch a week - whether it comes from rain, irrigation, or both. To conserve during drought, it's more realistic to shoot for a lawn with "moderate tolerable stress" - giving it about 60 percent of these monthly target amounts, or around a half- inch per week. The grass won't be perfect, but the reduced watering can keep roots alive, Chalmers says.

The Gang is All Here Tonight Who are you and where do you fit in the picture? What is your level of knowledge of water in Texas? Do we have a crisis here? Or over there? Just where is this water crisis in Texas? What issues are in your water bucket? What will the new norm be in your region? Groups invited here tonight: TNLA Region II, HGCIA, ISA Texas, Landscape Architects, Turf Producers Get involved in your Trade Association and volunteer to advocate for your industry!

Hydro Illogical Cycle

A few key points

Water Conservation As defined by the Water Conservation Advisory Council in Texas: Those practices, techniques, programs, and technologies that will protect water resources, reduce the consumption of water, reduce the loss or waste of water, improve the efficiency in the use of water, or increase the recycling and reuse of water so that a water supply is made available for future or alternative uses. Water Conservation is a water supply strategy

Drought Management 1. Meteorological Drought: This type of drought is often defined by a period of substantially diminished precipitation duration and/or intensity that persists long enough to produce a significant hydrologic imbalance. The commonly used definition of meteorological drought is an interval of time, generally of the order of months or years, during which the actual moisture supply at a given place consistently falls below the climatologically- appropriate moisture supply. 2. Agricultural Drought: Occurs when there is inadequate precipitation and/or soil moisture to sustain crop or forage production systems. The water deficit results in serious damage and economic loss to plant or animal agriculture. Agricultural drought usually begins after meteorological drought but before hydrological drought and can also affect livestock and other agricultural operations. 3. Hydrological Drought: Refers to deficiencies in surface and subsurface water supplies. It is measured as streamflow, and as lake, reservoir, and groundwater levels. There is usually a time lag between a lack of rain or snow and less measurable water in streams, lakes, and reservoirs, making hydrological measurements not the earliest indicators of drought. 4. Socioeconomic Drought: This drought occurs when physical water shortages start to affect the health, well being, and quality of life of the people, or when the drought starts to affect the supply and demand of an economic product. Drought management is temporary in nature as a response to extreme conditions Source: Texas Drought Prepardness Council

Landscape Water Considered discretionary in the urban environment Subject to critical period management Although some estimates put total landscape water consumption at 3% nation wide 40 to 70% of consumption in the urban environment during the peak summer months is outdoor watering Landscape water is the low hanging fruit for most municipalities seeking conservation measures as part of their water supply planning

Three at the Table.. Citizens of Texas (Population) Business/Industry Environment

You are in the Spotlight! The state of Texas is on the nations stage as to how it solves its water issues the green industry is part of that story

Its everywhere! National level State level Regional level Local level

Water-National Level EPA Water Sense www.epa.gov/watersense Smart Irrigation Month www.irrigation.org Alliance for Water Efficiency www.allianceforwaterefficiency.org American Society of Landscape Architects www.asla.org Water Action Guide www.wateractionguide.com

EPA Water Sense The goal of the program is to reduce indoor and outdoor (non-ag) water use through more efficient products, services and practices and to help customers differentiate between products in the marketplace, while insuring product performance and encouraging innovation in manufacturing

Alliance For Water Efficiency A voice and a platform for water use efficiency and water conservation that has never existed, bringing a critical new perspective to an increasingly thirsty North America

Smart Irrigation Month The Irrigation Association named July as Smart Irrigation Month to promote efficient watering practices, technologically advanced products and water conservation

American Society of Landscape Architects Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES) is an interdisciplinary partnership led by the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center at The University of Texas at Austin and the United States Botanic Center to transform land development and management practices through the nations first voluntary guidelines and rating system for sustainable landscapes, with or without buildings. The guidelines and rating system represent four years of work by dozens of the countrys leading sustainability experts, scientists, and design professionals and incorporate public input from hundreds of individuals and dozens of organizations to create this essential missing link in green design.

Trade Associations Dont forget our trade associations! ANLA,IA,PLANET,TPI and others

Just the facts please..

Texas Water The population in Texas is expected to more than double between the years 2000 to 2060 21 million to 46 million The demand for water is expected to increase by 27% - 17 million acre-feet to 21 million acre-feet

Texas Water Existing water supplies the amount of water that can be produced with current permits, contracts, and existing infrastructure during drought- are projected to decrease about 18% Why? depletion of aquifers and sedimentation in reservoirs Texas will need an additional 8.8 million acre feet of water by 2060 if new water supplies are not developed

Texas Water The regional water planning groups identified 4500 water management strategies and projects to generate the additional 9 million acre feet per year of water supplies for Texas

Water in Texas Where is it Coming From? Approx 9 million acre feet of water as follows: 48% Surface Water (4,388,689 acre feet) 23% Conservation (2,046,851 acre feet) 14% Reuse (1,261,579 acre feet) 9% Groundwater (799,209 acre feet) 3% Desalination (312,887 acre feet) 3% Other (231567 acre feet) Note: Statistics from the 2007 State Water Plan. What will the % of conservation be in the 2012 State Water Plan?

Water for Texas Water for Texas: Summary of the 2011 Regional Water Plans BENEFITS OF IMPLEMENTATION* If the SWP is not fully implemented, 83% of Texans will not have an adequate supply of water during times of drought. Failure to meet the states water needs in drought conditions could cost Texas businesses and workers approximately $11.9 billion today and up to $115.7 billion in 2060 Every $1 billion invested in Texas water supply projects generates $889 million annually in income for Texans. Every $1 billion invested in Texas water supply projects creates or supports 13,000 jobs. The $1.47 billion invested in water supply projects by 80th and 81st Legislatures had the following positive economic impacts for the State of Texas: generated $2.6 billion in sales revenues in the construction engineering and materials sectors and supporting businesses; created $1.3 billion in state gross domestic product; added $0.06 billion in state and local tax receipts; and created or supported nearly 19,300 jobs in the state.

Water for Texas COST OF DELAY* The population in Texas is expected to grow between the years 2010 and 2060 from about 25 million to about 46 million. The demand for water in Texas is expected to increase by 22 percent, from almost 18 million acre-feet of water in 2010 to 22 million acre-feet in 2060. If the State Water Plan is not fully implemented, 83% of Texans will not have an adequate supply of water during times of drought by 2060. If Texas does not implement the State Water Plan, water shortages during drought could cost businesses and workers in the state about $11.9 billion today and $115.7 billion by 2060. * Source of the information above is from the Texas Water Development Board.

State Water Plan and Planning in Texas

Water Planning in Texas 2007 represented the 50 th anniversary of the Texas Water Development Board- established in part in response to the drought of record Prompted by the drought of record(1950 to 1957) Texans began water planning in earnest in 1957 and now enjoys a nation wide reputation as a dynamic and innovative model to water planning and management The TWDB core mission is to ensure sufficient,clean, and affordable water supplies are available for the citizens of Texas AND foster a healthy economy and environment

Water Planning in Texas In 1957, the Legislature created the TWDB, the citizens approved a constitutional amendment authorizing $200 million for water supply projects, and required that a formal process begin for developing a plan to meet the future water needs of Texans. Planning began with big reservoirs(169 total) but only 25 constructed since 1980. The 1980s and 1990s saw the state shift its efforts from reservoir projects to improving the management of the states existing supplies and infrastructure conservation, reuse, and treatment of brackish water began to take its place in the Texas water story

Planning in Texas In the early 1990s the TWDB began to broaden participation in the planning process to include the TCEQ and the TPW Although important steps, the next influential step of water planning came as a result once again to a significant drought in 1996 - sizable economic losses and water shortages plagued the state. (We remember this one in SA because this was the beginning of the Green Industry Alliance.) This drought highlighted the need to plan more at the regional and local level. SB1 passed in 1997 during the 75 th Legislative session and created a new water planning process that relies on regional water plans prepared and adopted by local and regional decision makers. The shift in water planning went from a top down approach to a bottom up consensus driven model.

State Water Plan The state water plan is based on a "bottom-up" consensus- driven approach to water planning that involves 16 regional water planning groups. Within TWDB guidelines, each regional planning group reviews water use projections and water availability volumes in dry or drought-of-record conditions. When a water need is identified, the planning groups recommend water management strategies to meet the need. Once the planning group adopts the regional water plan, the plan is sent to the TWDB for approval. The TWDB then compiles information from the regional water plans and other sources to develop the state water plan.

Contents of Plan Regional Plan Summaries Population and Water Demand Projections Resources Groundwater and Surface Water Water Supply and Management Strategies State Water Plans are designed to build on each other with new data, new social and environmental conditions Great place to start to learn about water in Texas- 1 st plan adopted after SB1 is the 2002 State Water Plan..By January of 2012, the TWDB will develop,adopt,and submit the 2012 State Water Plan

Key Texas Web Sites Texas Water Development Board www.twdb.state.tx.us Texas Commission on Environmental Quality www.tceq.com Texas Parks and Wildlife www.tpwd.state.tx.us Water Conservation Advisory Council www.savetexaswater.org

Regional Water Planning Groups A consensus based approached...

Regional Planning Groups

What region are you in for planning purposes? 16 Regional Planning Groups across the State See TWDB web site and select the regional planning tab Region H-www.regionhwater.org Other regional players include: Groundwater Districts Subsidence Districts River Authorities

Region H Region H, located along the upper Texas coast, consists of all or part of 15 counties; Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Montgomery, Polk, San Jacinto, Trinity, Walker, and Waller. The eastern portions of Trinity and Polk Counties are included in the Region I planning area. The Region spans three rivers and four coastal basins in southeast Texas. Region H encompasses the San Jacinto River Basin, the lower portions of the Trinity and Brazos River Basins, and includes part or all of the Brazos- Colorado, the San Jacinto-Brazos, the Trinity-San Jacinto, and the Neches-Trinity coastal basins.

Region H

Conservation in Region H Plan Highlights(2012) Additional supplies needed by 2060 1,236,335 AC FT Total Capital Costs - $12 billion Conservation accounts for 12% of 2060 strategy volumes Five new major reservoirs Reuse accounts for 19% of 2060 strategy volume

Local water planners City of Houston www.houstontx.gov Select public works and engineering Other Water Purveyors Municipalities Municipal Utility Districts(MUDS)

A stakeholders experience in San Antonio

The Green Industry in Texas and San Antonio Who Are We? The green industry statewide is a $13 billion dollar industry and a robust $800 million dollar industry in San Antonio *(2009 dollars) (10,000 employees 2008) The industry represents designers, growers and suppliers of product,sod producers, landscape, irrigation and maintenance contractors, retail nurseries We are a diverse bunch! It is hard to document us!

Why did we get involved in the Water Conservation Issue in San Antonio? Simple A crisis brought us to the table! A federal lawsuit demanding protection of endangered species created a need for critical period management of our aquifer and required the water purveyor and others to draft demand reduction measures to maintain spring flows to the east of SA Sometimes a crisis gets the players to the table it just might be the thing that takes your conservation program to the next level!

The Green Industry Perspective Why has water conservation worked in SA? Creation of A Culture the environment created in SA between public officials, municipal staff, and the green industry professional encourages communication, planning and process review so that the end result hopefully is good public policy for the community. We decided early on to be a part of the solution and not the problem! Industry leadership instead of resistance leadership guarantees our issues and concerns as an industry are presented in the debate. We dont always agree with SAWS on how to solve water conservation issues. SAWS does not always agree with industry on solutions sometimes the policy makers dont agree with either one of us!

Why has water conservation worked? The green industry has organized itself so that it can speak with one voice on the issues challenging the profession and community. Our ability to communicate clearly with the policy makers helps to produce effective policy in which results can be measured. In our view the three areas that contribute to the success of water conservation practices as it pertains to watering our landscapes is the following:

Regulation/Pricing of the Resource The pricing of the resource clearly sends a signal to the consumer about the value of water in the community Development standards in the form of local ordinances The Green Industry has regulated itself if you doing business in the City of SA and installing landscape irrigation systems you must be registered with the city, maintain liability insurance, and comply with design and installation standards

Regulation continued. Our water conservation ordinance expands on the 5 xeriscape principles to include drought tolerant turf selections, rain sensors for all irrigation systems, and soil requirements for new landscapes Although not a regulator item the community is attempting to embrace all of the xeriscape principles that we know will produce beautiful landscapes while using our water efficiently. SAWS has been instrumental in its education efforts to educate the public and quite frankly some of the green industry companies!

Regulation continued. The relationships we have built in the community has allowed us to move forward with the regulatory issues with the hopes that we conserve water in the outdoors while providing economic opportunities for the green industry to grow and prosper.

Technical Development The good news in the Green Industry is that manufacturers of goods for the landscapes irrigation products, quality horticulture items such as soils and mulches, improved turf and plant varieties all contribute to the water conservation effort! The Green Industry has a lot of tools in its tool bag to achieve water conservation!

Communicationthe message Consumer Green Industry Professional City Officials, Municipal Staff, Water Purveyors Educational Institutions

Communication.the message The success of water conservation efforts in our community centers around a message that is clear and concise to the public. The public will embrace conservation if the message is clear and credible. Good communications between the groups mentioned on the previous slide allows for a community such as San Antonio to be able to enjoy our outdoor environment and all the benefits it brings to a city of more than a million people. We currently enjoy less than a 140 gpcd.Our water consumption for more than a decade has been on the decline despite population growth.

Communicationthe message Good communications and factual information from the green industry to the policy makers is important. Good communications between the consumer and industry professional eliminate mixed signals and frustration for end user. Good communications from the educational institutions to the industry as well as the policy makers provides tools for effective solutions.

The Green Industry Alliance

Organize Yourself! The usual items decide how you will be organized, (structure). File the appropriate paperwork. Outside accounting professional to maintain the organizations finances and file appropriate tax reports. Develop bylaws and organizational structure. Code of Ethics, operational philosophy, vision statement, mission statement, etc. Areas of concentration and services you will provide Strategic Planning and Budgeting

Strategic Planning Define your vision The vision of the Green Industry Alliance is to demonstrate that a coalition of Green Industry professionals and its allied members can work together to improve industry standards and influence public policy. Define your mission The Alliance is an association of Green Industry professionals, organized to promote responsible landscape development, management and maintenance through professional standards and sound regional policy. Define your goals The goals of the Alliance are to create an awareness and demand for professional standards in the industry. Develop support for industry views on matters of public policy. Increase awareness of the industry by creating one united, credible authority.

Services Define your services to your membership as well as interested parties Services provided by the Green Industry Alliance will be concentrated in the areas of: Government Affairs, Communications and Media Relations, Fundraising, and Operational Excellence in support of these services.

Governmental Affairs Definition: Engage public policy officials concerning support for local and regional industry views Objectives: proactively provide proposed public policy. Identify and maintain communication channels with public officials and staff. Board Member Contact: President Committee Chair: GIA Member

Communications & Media Relations Definition: be the definitive communicator of industry information; encourage and support industry professionals to improve industry standards and influence policy in other regions; share knowledge with other regions. Objectives: identify and proactively utilize all media opportunities. Position the GIA as the reliable green industry resource. Inform interested groups about policy issues, processes, and industry standards. Identify methods and execute industry education for industry professionals, coalition partners, consumers (the public), public entities and policy makers, and green industry professionals in other regions. Board Member Contact: President Committee Chair: GIA Member

Fundraising Definition: Ensure GIA has the financial resources to perform its activities. Objectives: Conduct a variety of fundraisers events throughout year to cover operational expenses. Board Member Contact: Vice President Committee Chair: GIA Member

Operational Excellence Definition: Create and maintain excellent operational standards for the GIA Objectives: Serve as the local information resource for the green industry. Develop and maintain an operational budget. Document and implement policies and procedures in compliance with the by laws. Board Member Contact: President Committee Chair: GIA Member

Other Elements Leadership pick your board carefully. Reflect your constituents but strive to place decision makers of companies and people of vision on your board. The board is your leadership. The place keepers will only execute policy. Communications boards must communicate to each other as well as its membership. Stick to your goals and objectives. Dont take on to much. Review during your strategic planning sessions. Dont forget your coalition partners! Create value for what you do! Park your ego and your personal agenda at the door and serve the industry you represent.

Leadership Leadership the position or function of a leader Leader a person or a thing that leads Lead to take or conduct on the way; go before or with to show the way; to influence; to guide in direction; course; action or opinion. The 100% Story In any group generally you will find the following break down when change is apparent: 10% of the group will be visionary (leaders) The next 50% to 60% will come along with the vision or goals once the leaders are ok The next 20% will come kicking and screaming but they will eventually change and embrace the vision or goals The bottom 10% will never make the change

Guiding Principles of the GIA We must demonstrate professional leadership when it comes to water issues in our region We must be good stewards of the water in our region. We have an obligation to provide leadership and support effective public policy when it comes to water-in particular the urban landscapes. Policy makers need the benefit of learning the professional standards for effective best management practices and it is the industrys responsibility to teach them in a fair and balanced way. Tell our story it is important! Speak with ONE credible voice!

Challenges Due to excessive growth our ordinance in San Antonio needs revision to better suit the public and industry. Industry is getting involved with the end user about the issue of violating the ordinance to protect their landscape investment not good public policy! We are using aggressive conservation as a water supply strategy while looking for other sources this supply strategy will not provide the needed resources for the growth in population in the region End user will do what is necessary to protect their landscape investment For the professional gut check lose money by denying services??? Most service providers have heard the phrase- I will just find someone else to do it Have not addressed the correct amount of water to put on the landscape plant,soil and water relationships Leadership from the professional Green Industry Designation in the region for the professional committed to Best Management Practices Although we have increased our cost of water, the impact to the consumer has not been adequate enough to trigger conservation techniques and retrofits to our landscapes on a volume scale. Smaller municipality coordination

Opportunities Because we have established our relationships with the decision makerswe enjoy an open forum to bring issues of concern to them in a relatively quick fashion if need be. Our recent rate increases should generate opportunity for industry professionals to improve the landscape and irrigation practices on a variety of sites both residential and commercial. During a drought period we have the opportunity to talk directly to the public.promotion of best management practices can be accomplished here. The water purveyor is flexible with rebate programs so that the industry can choose rebates that are responsive to current conditions.

Forward thinking stuff.. Energy /Water Nexus HB 2507 Proposition 2 go to TWDB for detail

What will be your next steps in your region

Begin with your Water Bucket Notes. Notes and thoughts from tonights presentation should help to launch your efforts in this region Relationships in the region just who is out there dealing with these issues? Get to know them.. Elected officials and policy makerslearn the players Who are your 10% leaders from the industryidentify them so they can get to work on these issues! Can you speak with ONE credible voice once you are organized?

Profound changes are happening to the Green Industry As an industry we must be good stewards of the water in Texas Learn as much as you can about water in Texas Teach you customers and employees about water

Gardening, landscaping and outdoor activities gives us a reason to push aside our worries and look forward to hope to the next bloom, the next season, the next year. These activities are here to stay because as humans we reap the many benefits of the beautiful landscapes in Texas-natural or created. All of these activities need water.

Information overload starts here..

Web Sites Save Texas Water.org official site of the Water conservation Advisory Council Texas Urban Landscape Guide www.urbanlandscapeguide.tamu.edu Texas Evaporation Network www.texaset.tamu.edu H204texas.org good site for current news articles across the state www.texasthestate ofwater.org decade long video series

A Good Read.. Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine all July issues for the past ten years Water in Texas Robert Glennon Unquenchable Steve Maxwell and Scott Yates the Future of Water Charles Fishman The Big Thirst Andrew Sansom Water in Texas

Texas Trade Association Efforts Texas Turf Irrigation Association-www.ttia.org Partners with TNLA expo to bring info to members concerning water conservation issues Partners with TNLA on regulatory issues No information on web site about water issues in Texas No standing water committee Diverse BOD made up of local irrigation associations Texas Irrigation Network-www.texasirrigationnetwork.net Mission statement speaks to conservation Survey of Texas Cities adopting ordinances Post TCEQ irrigation rules that outline standards for the irrigation professional Conduct workshops about water issues in Texas Diverse BOD Texas Nursery and Landscape Association-txnla.org Water restrictions by county on home page Some info limited to members only No standing water committee Partners with TTIA on regulatory issues Water/water conservation info search by publications

Texas Trade Association Efforts Turfgrass Producers of Texas www.txsod.com Get the grass facts video Drought study report on Turfgrass You Tube ads in the can Conducts events in partnership with TAMU Texas TurfgrassAssociation-www.texasturf.com ASLA Texas Chapter-www.texasasla.org Links to sustainable sites initiative,LEED,USGBC and other key design development issues

Implementation of State Water Plan Water issue goes way beyond no fireworks Texans must demand state officials step up to the challenge. By Lyle Larson / Special to the Express-News Updated 06:03 p.m., Tuesday, July 12, 2011 www.mysa.com search Lyle Larson

State Water Plan. In Texas, our biggest challenge in sustaining job growth and economic development is water. If we do nothing, the Texas Water development Board (TWDB) estimates that 85 percent of Texans will lack sufficient water supply during a drought by 2060, at which point our state's population will have doubled. Demand for water in Texas will grow 27 percent in the next 50 years, from 17 million acre-feet today to 21.6 million acre-feet in 2060. During the same time period, supply will decrease 18 percent. This is simply unacceptable. The longer we insist on preserving the status quo, the more we risk reliving the notorious 8-year drought that occurred during the 1950s, which, as a result, the state's economy sustained a loss of $24.5 billion in today's dollars. With 25 million people living in Texas today versus 8 million in 1950, the effects the drought will be realized three times faster. If these facts don't illustrate the magnitude of this situation, what will?

From the Green Industry Alliance San Antonio, Texas Speakers: Mike Brown and Kelly Hall Presented at...

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