Saving Tucson’s Environment

March 17, 2013 — environment, storm water, Tucson water, water conservation

This week I had the opportunity to take a workshop with Watershed Management Group. I am concerned about the use and abuse of our water resources in Tucson, so I was curious to learn what this group is teaching. I found the format to be very effective. Our 2 day workshop took place at the Ward 1 City of Tucson office near the Santa Cruz River.  A grant has been secured to improve the environment around the office.  The water harvesting techniques we learned to retrofit neighborhoods with green infrastructure are needed in all parts of the Tucson valley in order to preserve and repair our water table.  The city of Tucson Water, and the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality sponsor and fund some of these storm water harvesting projects.  Others are created by neighborhoods and cities.  Lake Havasu City has been an active client, as is the city of Sierra Vista.

My fellow students came from as far away as Buffalo, New York.  There were several New Mexicans.  All were professionals in the fields of landscape design, civil engineering, architecture, permaculture, and real estate management.  I attended out of my general interest in water quality and health.  I have a specific interest in stopping the rape of the environment in my neighborhood by my own HOA board.  There is an insistence on as much water waste and plant destruction as possible, which has left us with a more and more barren urban heat island.  The value of our property as well as the quality of life around us has been destroyed, along with wildlife habitat, by simply following worst environmental practices for more than a decade.  If no steps are taken to stop the destructive practices we can expect our value to continue to drop and our crime rate to continue to rise.  Environment and greenery have a very direct effect on crime rates.

I learned more than enough to convince some of my neighbors to join me in turning the tide of waste and ghetto creation in our hood.  I look forward to participating in more projects with Watershed Management Group.

Benefits and techniques

Costs

Healthy snacks

we assess the site

checking all deets

Parking lot project

polenta pizza

beets, greens, salad

greens

I am a huge fan of the entire process, about which I will tell you much more, gentle reader. Let it suffice to say that taking courses in watershed management will get you into the best lunch you have ever tasted. Incredibly tasty local ingredients were catered for us picnic style.  A good time was had by all.  The learning was fine, but the camaraderie and gourmet enjoyment put this experience over the top in my book.