Put Your Summer Irrigation on a Budget

Curious how much water a landscape needs? Have you wanted to improve watering efficiency to reduce bills? Join Fort Collins Utilities staff to explore how to create a landscape water budget, discuss opportunities to improve water efficiency and review best management practices for Colorado’s semi-arid climate to cut waste and save money.

Specifically, this training will cover:

• How to estimate landscape water need
• Tools for improving communication between contractors, property owners and residents
• Fort Collins Utilities’ Landscape Water Budget Tool
• Certified Professional Landscape Program and incentives
• Other landscape-related updates

Speaker Bios:

Abbye Neel – Water Conservation Specialist, Fort Collins Utilities

Abbye has been with the City for the past year and supports the Utilities’ business water efficiency programs. She holds a master’s degree from Colorado School of Mines in Hydrology and an undergraduate degree in Geology from Whitman College. Prior to working at the City, she examined the relationship between water use and landcover using remote sensing techniques, in addition to spending time as a high school math teacher.

Eric Olson – Water Conservation Coordinator, Fort Collins Utilities

Eric is the Water Conservation Coordinator for Fort Collins Utilities and has been with the City since 2007. Eric helped create the landscape codes for water conservation and he reviews plans and provides field inspections for the landscape and irrigation systems in Fort Collins. He trains auditors and provides technical support for the City’s sprinkler audit program; develops sprinkler rebates and supports the Xeriscape Incentive Program. Eric enforces the City’s Municipal and Land Use Codes for water conservation. Eric is certified in irrigation design, irrigation auditing and backflow protection. Eric is an instructor for The Irrigation Association and is a Master Gardener for Larimer County.