Resources & Training
Training
Northern Water offers training classes through the Irrigation Association. For details check this page or the Irrigation Association website.
In January 2013 Northern Water hosted an Irrigation Association landscape irrigation auditor training class (recommended for the Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor exam).
Northern Water welcomes recommendations to host additional Irrigation Association classes.
Tours
The Conservation Gardens at Northern Water are open daily during daylight hours. Call or e-mail to schedule a guided tour.
For more information or to arrange a tour please contact:
Dana Strongin
970-622-2239
dstrongin@northernwater.org
Mary Hattendorf
970-622-2269
mhattendorf@northernwater.org
Water Conservation Studies
Northern Water conducts studies on irrigation technology, lawn water conservation and Xeriscape plants. Most of these occur in the Conservation Gardens. Below are study summaries.
Smart Irrigation Technology
Learn about smart irrigation controllers and how they can save water.
Turf Grass Water Conservation Studies
See turf grass plots in the Conservation Gardens, including different grass mixes, a line source irrigation demonstration, lysimeters and soil preparation techniques.
Grass Water Stress and ET Monitoring Using Ground- and Airborne-based Remote Sensing
This was a pilot study conducted by Dr. Jose L. Chavez and Dr. Saleh Taghvaeian for Northern Water. The purpose of this study was to monitor grass ET and water stress with ground based measurements and airborne remote sensing imagery. Remotely sensed data and the Crop Water Stress Index algorithm quantified the variation in turfgrass water use caused by grass species and cultivar differences, as well as by irrigation amounts.
Northern Water employee Chad Kuhnel, right, explains sprinkling systems to Conservation Gardens Fair participants at Northern Water’s headquarters on May 12, 2012.
Landscaping & Watering Seminars
Northern Water hosts landscaping and watering how-to seminars for the general public and the landscaping industry. In May every year, Northern Water holds its Conservation Gardens Fair at Northern Water’s headquarters. The fair features seminars on do-it-yourself equipment fixes, sprinkler and drip irrigation guidelines, the principles of Xeriscape and irrigation scheduling. The fair also has kids' activities, plant and landscaping product vendors and a resource center. The first fair was in 2012. The 2013 fair drew 400 visitors.
For information on future training and events, check this page or contact Mary Hattendorf at 970-622-2269 or
mhattendorf@northernwater.org.
2012 Conservation Gardens Fall Field Day Presentation Materials
Go to the
Event Presentations page to download slides from the 2012 Conservation Gardens Fall Field Day that was held on Aug. 17, 2012 at Northern Water’s Berthoud headers.
2013 Conservation Gardens Fall Field Day to be held August 16
The Northern Water Conservation Gardens Fall Field Day for landscape contractors and municipal water conservation specialists will be held at Northern Water’s headquarters in Berthoud August 16 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tours of the Conservation Gardens will highlight current turf and Xeriscape projects and results to date. Lunch will be served free of charge. RSVP information to be posted on this page soon.