Watershed Info No 1174

  Daniel Salzler                                                                    No. 1174                                                        

          EnviroInsight.org                    Six Items                November 4, 2022     

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attached is all about improving life in the watershed. If you want to be removed from

the distribution list, please let me know. Please note that all meetings listed are open.

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1. Global Energy Report: Pain at the Pump, High Energy Costs Could Create a Silver Lining for Climate and Security. On the heels of a new World Meteorological Organization report this week that revealed “more bad news for the planet” and its climate crisis, another global institution, the International Energy Agency, described an energy crisis that is “delivering  a shock of unprecedented breadth and complexity.”

But IEA officials also found a reason for optimism.  

Emerging out of the crisis, they report, are “profound and long-lasting changes that have the potential to hasten the transition to a more sustainable and secure energy system.”

The 524-page IEA World Energy Outlook 2022, published Thursday, puts the blame for rising energy prices across the globe and the widespread economic pain caused by energy inflation squarely at the feet of Russia, which invaded Ukraine in February, upsetting global energy markets. But the United States, Europe, China and India are putting in place new energy policies that could, over the long term, lead to greater sustainability and stability, including more renewable energy, the report concluded. Source:: “Inside Climate News”

2. Now Is The Time For Fall Planting In Your Landscape.  Before you plant, PLAN.  Planning is essential if you want an attractive, easy to maintain, and functional home landscape. Make sure to look at mature plant size and characteristics to determine if their fit and function will work well in your yard.

Water – Use It Wisely Arizona partners have put together great information on saving water outdoors that includes  interactive watering guides, landscaping ideas, low-water-use plants and more.  Also, be sure to explore the event calendar on the Water – Use It Wisely home page and find out the fall landscape workshops we have going on this season!

When you purchase plants for your home landscape, be sure to look for healthy, well-grown plants. Don’t forget to add 2-3 inches of compost or mulch to the surface of the soil after planting and before covering with granite or rock (keep the mulch a few inches away from the stem or tree trunk). Check with your local plant nursery for the best results. Don’t forget to look for local fall plant sales put on by botanical gardens or others.

Benefits of Low Water Use Lansdcapes

• Use up to 60 – 75% less water than grass or traditional landscapes
• Save water, a precious resource in the desert
• Provide many functions (shade, attracting birds, and color)
• Easier to maintain requiring less fertilizer, pesticides and care

Don’t Forget to Plant Seeds

Consider Forgoing the Winter Grass

Are you thinking of overseeding your bermudagrass? While sustaining a lush, green lawn throughout the year is appealing to many home and business owners, the additional water needed for cool-season grasses is difficult to justify when water is such a precious resource. Now more than ever, saving every drop we can is critical as we experience extraordinary drought conditions as well as climate pressures that have triggered water shortages to our Colorado River water supplies.

 Need more help to decide whether or not to forgo the winter lawn? First, see the Top Ten Reasons Not to Overseed with Winter Rye. If you decide you still want to overseed, keep it as efficient as you can with the timing, watering, and limiting the areas.

 Plant Wildflowers

Are you looking for carpets of golden poppies or spikes of violet lupines? Even though they bloom in the spring, fall is the time to sow many of the wildflower seeds in your landscape. If possible try to sow shortly before one of our October or November rains. For good details on wildflower gardening, request our free booklet, “Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert” or read our blog, “Plant of the Month: Wildflowers!” for more information.

Avoid wildflower or ‘meadow’ mixes from other parts of the country or world. For example, African Daisies are… well, from Africa. Look for quality, locally grown, or collected seed that includes beauties such as Mexican Gold Poppies, Arizona Lupines and Desert Bluebells. The Native Seed Company out of Tucson provides high quality, locally collected native seeds. Seeds are not available for online ordering but can be found at most local nurseries or specialty plant sales.  Source: Water Use It Wisely

3. Our  Thoughts And Prayers With Mary Hoadley.  A short message from Watershed Group Leader, Mary Hoadley from the Upper Agua Fria Watershed Program:

A bike wreck October 16, 2022 left me with 5 fractured ribs and a broken neck so I need to postpone the face to face  Chauncey Ranch Meeting previously scheduled for November 1, 2022.

I’m really disappointed but so grateful for quick acting EMT’s that saved my life! At home and recuperating well.

Invite and Draft Agenda to follow

Best,

Mary

God speed, Mary!

4.  Climate Action And Adaptation Plan Public Workshop.  Tucson Resilient Together is the City of Tucson’s forthcoming Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, scheduled for release at the end of this year.  Mayor Regina Romero and City staff invite you to participate in the second and final workshop to share your knowledge, experience, and input on the strategies and actions that will help Tucson reach its carbon neutrality goals and create a climate-resilient future for all Tucsonans.

Learn more about Tucson Resilient Together, share what climate action and resilience look like for you and your community, and provide meaningful input on specific actions the City is considering.  The workshop is November 12 from 9:00 a.m. to noon at the Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church Street, Tucson.  Eventbrite registration at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tucson-resilient-together-climate-action-strategy-workshop-tickets-444782655897

Source: Netnews Digest

5. Phoenix Water Hosting Town Halls Focused on Colorado River Shortage.

As part of their ongoing effort to keep the public informed about how reduced allocations of Colorado River water are impacting the City of Phoenix, Phoenix Water experts will deliver a presentation at various locations in the weeks ahead.

The speakers will focus on how the City manages its diverse and robust water supplies, decades of planning and forethought that have put the City in a strong position to handle this eventuality, new infrastructure investments, and other strategies in development to prepare for a hotter, drier climate.

Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions about water conservation efforts and how 

Phoenix is positioning itself for a sustainable future with less Colorado River water. The United 

States Bureau of Reclamation declared a Tier 2a shortage for the Colorado River in 2023.

Since declaring a Stage 1 Water Alert and activating its Drought Management Plan on June 1, Phoenix Water has taken extraordinary steps to educate citizens and businesses about water conservation. Additionally, City leaders have worked diligently to keep the public informed about their strategy for managing the federal government’s actions to protect the Colorado River system. 

These town hall meetings are another step in the vital process of informing, educating, and listening as everyone comes together to understand this situation and search for viable solutions. The presentations at these meetings will be the same, but the discussion will vary depending on the questions from attendees. 

Media briefing: Thursday, Oct. 20 | 3 p.m. | Burton Barr Central Library

Source: https://www.phoenix.gov/newsroom/water-services/2527

6.  EPA publishes Fifth Drinking Water Contaminant Candidate List   Nov. 2, 2022

The CCL 5, a major tool in regulating contaminants, will help guide EPA’s regulatory decisions for the next five years — and it includes the entire chemical group of PFA. EXAMPLE

Source: https://www.epa.gov/ccl/ccl-5-microbial-contaminants 

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