Falling for Sustainability: Tackling Landscape Water Waste in Autumn

As the vibrant colors of summer foliage transform into the rich, warm hues of autumn, our landscapes undergo a beautiful metamorphosis. However, with the arrival of fall comes a surprising and often unnoticed phenomenon – a significant spike in landscape water waste. Many landscapers and homeowners may be unaware of this seasonal water consumption shift and its associated challenges. Today, we explore why more landscape water is wasted in the fall and provide actionable solutions… Read more »


Drip Irrigation: Enhancing Sustainable Agriculture

In today’s world, sustainable agriculture is gaining increasing importance. As a result, farmers and agricultural experts continually explore innovative techniques and practices to optimize crop production while minimizing environmental impact. One such method emerging as a game-changer in water management is drip irrigation. In this article, we will delve into the benefits of drip irrigation, mainly focusing on drip tape, and discuss how it contributes to sustainable agriculture. When talking about sustainability in agriculture, several… Read more »


Severe Drought — H2 Uh Oh!

California Governor Jerry Brown’s recent State of Emergency Proclamation on drought conditions has focused attention on water scarcity and the need for efficient water use. Texas is also experiencing severe drought conditions.  Colorado, Nevada, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida have all felt the effects of drought recent years as well. The good news in all this bad drought news is there are still lots of basic, inexpensive ways… Read more »


5 Progressive Ideas About Water From Pat Mulroy

Pat Mulroy oversees the operations of the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) and the Las Vegas Valley Water District (LVVWD). The Water Authority is responsible for acquiring, treating and delivering water to Southern Nevada. Mulroy was a principal architect of the Authority, which has allowed Southern Nevada to grow and thrive during a time of water shortages and drought.  Pat is  known nation wide as a leader in water… Read more »


Happy Anniversary!

Two years ago we launched ValleyCresttakeson.com and it has been amazing how many people helped make a difference in water conservation.  Thank you to all of you who have shared your expertise, contributed ideas, and helped raise awareness about water.  We couldn’t have done it without you. Most of the work on the blog is done after hours, and most of our subscribers read the blog after hours. This is not just our work; it… Read more »


Who Else Wants To Save Energy?

By now we’re all pretty well programmed to conserve electricity. Turn off the lights, unplug appliances, don’t leave the refrigerator door open, etc. But we’re missing a really important point: the energy-water connection. Almost one fifth of California’s energy is used to move water.  Water conservation and water management are becoming vital to energy conservation.   Nearly 75%  of the state’s rainfall occurs in Northern California, while  75% of the agricultural and urban water use… Read more »


Think Conservation is Tough? 100 Simple Ways to Save Water Outdoors

1. To improve water conservation install a rain sensor, it turns off your irrigation when it rains. 2. Use a weather-based controller. The use of smart controllers can reduce water usage 24% a year on average. 3. Learn about available rebate programs by checking with local or state water agencies.  Rebates  help offset irrigation investments. 4. It’s important to partner with the right expertise (contractor/water manager), and smart technology to achieve conservation and plant health… Read more »


How To Make A Difference – The Top 10 Posts from 2012

In the last 12 months Valleycresttakeson.com had over 41,000 page views.  A clear sign more people are finding water interesting, or at least pricing and the potential of water shortages are attracting their interest.   Water management and water conservation continue to gain popularity. Domestically, the states with the most readers are California, Texas and Florida, followed by Georgia, Arizona and Colorado.  New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois and Virginia round out  the top 10 states. … Read more »


Tree Preservation and Water Conservation

On a hot day, a  large mature tree can lose hundreds of  gallons of water from transpiration through its leaves. The same tree will lose almost no water on a cold winter day, and there are many possibilities in between.  Trees represent a significant investment in our landscape from both a capital and water expense.  Maintaining trees and keeping them healthy is an important part of our sustainability  program and will help with water conservation. … Read more »


Five Tips for Watering Young Trees in Turf

Watering trees in turf creates water management opportunity

Turf is typically watered with spray heads and they are not designed to provide a deep watering. Planting trees in turf creates some issues for irrigation.  Watering trees is very different than watering turf.  Watering your trees properly may require some out of the box thinking for your irrigation system, but the results will reflect positively on your landscape’s most valuable asset. Create a separate watering zone… Read more »