The Regional Water Authority (RWA) has released the following statement in response to snow survey results announced today by the California Department of Water Resources. "Just a month ago, California's snowpack was well above average. Now, after just one relatively dry January, today's snow survey shows below normal conditions. "California's variable precipitation is a constant threat to our water supplies and an ongoing reminder for all of us to use only the water that we need. "Having enough water is critical to California and our local economy, and water efficiency plays an important role. The Regional Water Authority and local water providers ask residents to use water efficiently

Trained Professionals Help Residents Create Beautiful, Sustainable Landscapes   Top names in the sustainable landscaping industry recently gathered to celebrate new Green Gardener graduates. Green Gardeners are landscape professionals that undergo an intensive, 10-week training course in sustainable, River-Friendly landscaping. During the course, participants learn principles and practices that can help reduce urban runoff and conserve water. "The Green Gardener program is important to the Sacramento region because it trains landscaping professionals to garden responsibly and to protect our resources, especially our waterways," said Debbie Flower, Horticulture Professor at American Riv

"Local business owner profile" is a regular column highlighting local business owners; the backbone of our community and economy. Each column explores the personal stories of the owners and the businesses they built. Craig Triebwasser's office window looks out onto the shop yard filled with neat stacks of stone, bricks and fencing. His domain is Valley Redwood Inc., the business that he and his father built 30 years ago. In the 1970s, Craig worked at a wholesale lumber distribution and manufacturing plant in Rocklin. While there he got an education in the wholesale business as he shipped lumber all over the country and made connections to other folks in the building supply industry. In

Area residents can get answers to their most vexing landscaping questions and check out beautiful, low-water use plants at "Ask a Green Gardener Day" on Saturday, May 19. May is “Water Awareness Month." To celebrate, the Regional Water Authority and local water providers are partnering with nurseries throughout the Sacramento region to host "Ask a Green Gardener Day." Green Gardeners are landscape professionals that undergo an intensive, 10-week training course in sustainable, River-Friendly landscaping. They include maintenance professionals, contractors, designers, arborists and irrigation experts. During this free event, visitors will have the opportunity to meet qualified Green Gard

With the recent dry weather and warmer temperatures, Sacramento-area residents might be tempted to ramp up their landscape irrigation. But, the Regional Water Authority and local water providers are recommending restraint. "Plants don't need as much water this time of year, even without rain," said Linda Yager, Regional Water Efficiency Program Manager. Lower temperatures, shorter daylight hours and moisture from fog and rain all combine to reduce the water demands of a typical landscape. Edible gardens and fruit bearing trees have special water requirements, so please consult with a landscape professional or your local Master Gardeners for more information. The Regional Water Authority

Blue Thumb Neighbors (BTN) is offering a special workshop to provide Witter Ranch (Natomas) residents with a hands-on opportunity to apply sustainable landscape practices to a neighbor’s yard. Working with the host, the BTN team will develop an action plan for transforming one ornamental planting area with beautiful, low-water use plants and upgrading sprinkler heads in one turf area. BTN instructors, participants and volunteers will then dig in and implement those plans during the Garden Party. The Garden Party will include both instruction and hands-on application on the following topics: Soil and Soil Amendments: Discuss soil health, use of compost and how the site was prepared Hydr

The Witter Ranch neighborhood in Natomas has been selected to participate in “Blue Thumb Neighbors,” a free program sponsored by the Regional Water Authority and City of Sacramento Department of Utilities. The project will teach residents there how to create healthy, beautiful, River‐Friendly landscapes that compliment their homes and neighborhood. River‐Friendly landscaping is a holistic approach to sustainable landscaping that uses resources, like water, efficiently and incorporates practices that foster soil health, reduce waste and prevent pollution of the air and waterways. Each participating household will receive a free at‐home consultation on efficient watering, sponsored by the

Mulch, drip irrigation kits and rain sensors...What do all of these have in common? They're considered "Top 10 Products for Saving Water at Home" available at your local home improvement store. To celebrate Water Awareness Month in May, local water providers and the Regional Water Authority (RWA) are partnering with Lowe's to showcase products that can help residents use less water. These include WaterSense-labeled toilets and showerheads, rotary sprinkler nozzles, automatic hose timers and more. Water providers will be on hand to discuss these and other products, tips for saving water both inside and outside the home, as well as rebates for replacing water-wasting fixtures with newer m

We've all heard the term "Green Thumb" used to describe someone with a natural skill for gardening. Now there's a new resource for gardeners to help them develop a "Blue Thumb"--a talent for creating a beautiful, water-efficient landscape. In the Blue Thumb blog, local landscape and irrigation experts Cheryl Buckwalter of Landscape Liaisons and Vicky Bartish of EcoLandscape California share their personal and professional insights on topics such as: • Selecting and maintaining high-impact, low-fuss plants appropriate for the Sacramento region • Reading your landscape and making practical design decisions • Matching your irrigation to your soil and plant type Cheryl and Vicky also answer

The Regional Water Authority (RWA) and local water providers kick off their 2011 Blue Thumb Pledge Drive by honoring 11 Sacramento-area residents and organizations as "Blue Thumb Ambassadors." Honorees will be recognized for their dedication to landscape water efficiency this Sunday, April 10, at 12:45 p.m. at the Sacramento River Cats game. Nearly 40 individuals and organizations were nominated by water providers and landscape advisors. Ultimately, 11 were selected because of their passion for using water wisely outdoors and their work as environmental educators, resources for their neighbors and stewards of our local water supplies. "Sometimes it's difficult to appreciate the need for

The Regional Water Authority (RWA) and 19 local water providers today launched a new public education campaign promoting landscape water efficiency in the Sacramento region. The television and radio campaign stars Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, Dinger and Grounds Manager Chris Ralston of the Sacramento River Cats, Meteorologist Elissa Lynn of the California Department of Water Resources and six Sacramento-area residents who have earned their “Blue Thumb” by using water efficiently outdoors. The public service campaign focuses on landscape water efficiency because most water use occurs outdoors. With the Sacramento region’s hot, dry climate and long summer season, more than 65 percent of

 Tree clean our air and water, store carbon in their trunks, create habitat for wildlife, reduce air pollution, increase property values, and provide countless other benefits. The Sacramento Tree Foundation works to leverage all of the benefits that trees provide to create healthy and sustainable communities through building the best urban forest in the Sacramento region. A major keystone in building the best urban forest is the Greenprint initiative, a multi-decade regional framework created to meet Sacramento's sustainability and livability goals by expanding urban forests and optimizing the benefits of tree canopies. Greenprint partners, comprised of 22 cities and 6 counties, have agree

The Regional Water Authority (RWA) is pleased to announce the River-Friendly Landscaping, Green Gardener Training Program. The Green Gardener Training Program is a 10-week series providing high quality training to professionals on how to “garden green.” Attendees will learn landscape principles that can assist in reducing urban runoff, conserving water, and reducing solid waste, including: Conserving water, protecting the soil and reducing the use of pesticides. Many classes will include both indoor and outdoor hands-on components. Creating a healthier garden for your client and a healthier work environment for yourself and your employees. Offering a list of River-Friendly Landscaping

In my first article for this storyline I discussed several simple steps that individuals can implement to reduce their water consumptions.  To read more about simple conservation tips, please click on the green storyline tab and select the article titled, "The Crisis."  However, in this time of crisis immediate action is a necessary step, so it is also useful to consider the more drastic methods of conservation, such as drought-resistant landscaping. Outdoor residential water use accounts for 21 percent of all urban water use, according to the Pacific Institute, an environmental research group located in the East Bay.  Activities included under this umbrella term of "Residential Outdoor"