paper river colorado river divide of lower and upper basin water supply
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How Big Is the Gap Between Colorado River Promises and Actual Flow?

By Steve Whitesell The Law of the River promised more Colorado River water on paper than the river has ever consistently delivered. Over a century of flow records now shows that the river’s long‑term supply has consistently lagged behind…
behavior design case study with smile face
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Case Study: Belén Found a Cheaper Way to Save Water – With Smiley Stickers

Author: Kevin Poirier Rowe Rate hikes and awareness campaigns made little difference. But being compared to the neighbors – with a smiley or a frowny face on water bills – cut water use by 5%.  Belén had a water problem that was already…
carbon sequestration and turf
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Lawn Carbon Sequestration Report: What the Science Says

Contributors: Dr. Kelly Kopp, Alec Kowalweski, Ph.D. Introduction Agencies and utilities frequently promote replacing lawns with xeric landscapes, artificial turf, or gravel, often framing turfgrass removal as the most straightforward…
xeriscape vs smart controllers
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Americans’ Shifting Interests in Smart Irrigation and Xeriscape

Water-wise landscaping concepts have undergone remarkable growth over the past two decades, reflecting shifting public priorities around sustainability, technology, and climate adaptation.  By analyzing Google Trends data and state-by-state…
Water Wasted from Poor Maintenance
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Irrigation Waste Report: 30-60% of Water Wasted from Poor Maintenance

Executive Editor: Steve Whitesell Expert Author: Dr. Kelly Kopp You don’t need new tech or turf removal to save water—just fix what’s already there. Studies show that 30–60% of irrigation water is wasted due to leaks, misaligned heads,…