Arts & Entertainment
Water wisdom: Guide outlines framework for water-efficient landscapes
Published
5 years agoon
Posted By
Outlaw PartnersBy Stephanie Lynn EBS CONTRIBUTOR
Spring has come to Big Sky. The signs are everywhere.
And with the warmer weather, the season to plan and plant outdoor landscapes and gardens has arrived. The new “Big Sky Water Wise Landscaping Guide,” published by the Gallatin River Task Force, outlines a sustainable strategy for landscape, design, installation and maintenance that conserves water and protects rivers.
“It’s especially important to pay attention to your water use during the summer,” said Emily Casey, who is the author of the landscape guide. “Water conservation can relieve the stress of high temperatures, low precipitation rates, and reduced streamflows to help ensure water supply when the watershed needs it most.”
Today, many landscapes in Big Sky waste water through inefficient irrigation or inappropriate plant selection. Between 2003 and 2017, public water usage in June, July and August surpassed consumption during the other nine months of the year by an average of 400 percent, according to the Big Sky Water and Sewer District. During that period, demand for landscape water peaked in 2017 when summer usage exceeded winter by 800 percent.
Although thirst for water is growing with Big Sky, an arid climate and periodic drought constrain the supply. During the dry southwest Montana summer, melting snow feeds rivers, streams and groundwater, but warming trends could reduce snowpack and water levels. In addition, increasing consumption of groundwater could deplete streamflows further, impacting both fish and wildlife.
Given these challenges, reducing water use will help to sustain both human and natural communities in Big Sky. And when it comes to saving water, our landscapes, lawns and gardens represent the proverbial low-hanging fruit.
The landscape guide, written with the assistance of local nurseries, landscapers, irrigators and conservation organizations, adapts the seven xeriscape principles developed in Denver in the mid-90s to local climate and soils. These principles optimize water use while maintaining healthy, attractive and cost-effective landscapes.
Community members can pick up a free copy of the guide at the Task Force office and start saving water today. Many neighborhood covenants in Big Sky have specific lawn requirements that may be an obstacle to implementing water-wise practices. If this is the case, contact the Task Force to advocate to amend homeowner’s association covenants to conserve water.
Each yard and landscape in Big Sky is located within the Gallatin or Madison watersheds. All activities on the land affect both surface and groundwater.
To view the water-wise planning guide online, visit gallatinrivertaskforce.org/big-sky-water-wise-landscape-guide.
Stephanie Lynn is the education and communications coordinator for the Gallatin River Task Force. –
The Outlaw Partners is a creative marketing, media and events company based in Big Sky, Montana.
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My Barking Dog is a nightmare comedy
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My Barking Dog is a nightmare comedy that tells the story of Toby and Melinda, two lonely people whose lives are forever changed the night they encounter a starving coyote at their apartment building. Over time they grow to expect him, leaving ritual offerings to entice the coyote every night. Toby and Melinda forge a connection over this visitor and share curiosity and concern about his presence in the city. The coyote expands their world–until, one night, their world is shattered. Their lives are pushed suddenly into uncharted territory, sending them on a surreal odyssey that changes their city–and the world–forever.
Directed by LX Miller. Starring Max Schneider and Denise Hergett
Verge Theater is continuing their mission to provide accessible theater to our community. Tickets for My Barking Dog are Pay What You Wish with a suggested price of $35. Audience members are offered the opportunity to select the price point that is comfortable for them when purchasing tickets.
My Barking Dog runs March 15-17, 22-24, 28-30
Performances on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays begin at 7:00 p.m., with Sunday matinees offered at 3:00 p.m.
Suitable for ages 16 . No animals are harmed in the staging of this production.
Tickets are available online at www.vergetheater.com
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15 (Friday) 7:00 pm - 30 (Saturday) 8:30 pm
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Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm We will combine the heart-opening powers of cacao with the transcendental powers of breathwork and sound. Together, these practices will give us the opportunity for a deep
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Santosha Wellness Center
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29mar3:00 pm4:00 pmGood Friday Mass: St. Joseph Catholic Mission3:00 pm - 4:00 pm Event City:Big Sky
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Friday of the Passion of the Lord St. Joseph Catholic Mission
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