Demand Management Measures Independent Technical Panel

November 19, 2014

University of California, DavisUniversity of California Cooperative Extension

Loren Oki, Ph.D.CE Specialist, Landscape Horticulture

Organization backgroundUniversity of California Agricultural and Natural Resources (UC ANR)UC ANR is a statewide network of University of California

researchers and educators dedicated to the creation, development and application of knowledge in agricultural, natural and human resources.

The Specialist in Cooperative Extension is generally expected to keep campus and county colleagues and clientele apprised of emerging issues and research findings and directions, work with them to develop applications of research knowledge to specific problems, and provide education leadership and technical information support for county staff/clientele.

DWR Water Use and EfficiencyCLCA, CANGC, UC Master Gardeners, UC IPM, SWRCB, DPR, CDFA

Organization’s Approach to landscape water conservationUC ANR people, programs, and science-based solutions bridge

conflicting interests by bringing new knowledge, targeted research, and local education to complex problems and by preparing common ground for informed and responsible decisions.

IndustryRetail garden centersProduction nurseriesLandscape professionalsCities, counties, agencies

PublicMaster Gardeners & general public

Conservation communication to your membership and affected stakeholdersIrrigation Management Presentations 2014

33 total to 1500+ attendeesMaster Gardener & Garden Enthusiast Presentations

15 Water management presentations to 738 participantsLandscape Industry Presentations

13 presentations to 600 attendees14 6 Ways to Survive the Drought workshops in CA to 1600+

participantsProduction Nursery Presentations

5 Irrigation Management Efficiency workshops to 188 participants

Current challenges to achieve conservation goals and objectivesNumber of UC CE staff is shrinking although demand for

expertise continues to riseIn environmental horticulture

Landscape and Turf Nursery and Floriculture

Related fields Irrigation technology

Educating the public adequately to generate impact is difficultLevels of understandingMotivation

Current challenges to achieve conservation goals and objectivesUC Master Gardener Survey

Explaining and teaching clients about managing landscape irrigation is:

Not difficult Moderately difficult Very difficult Extremely difficult0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

212 responses

6.6%

53.3%

36.3%

3.8%

93.4%

Current challenges to achieve conservation goals and objectivesTell us about explaining and teaching clients about

programming irrigation controllers. It is:

209 responses

Not difficult Moderately difficult Very difficult Extremely difficult0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

4.3%

18.7%

42.1% 34.9%

95.7%

Anticipated challenges to achieve conservation goals and objectives

Irrigating landscapes is EASY to doProperly managing landscape irrigation

is EXTREMELY difficult

Anticipated challenges to achieve conservation goals and objectivesManaging irrigation with precision is difficult due to variations in:

Soil typePlant mixturesRegional climatesIrrigation systems: controllers, delivery methodsTopographySupply capacity and pressure

Wide range of knowledge and abilities among professional irrigation managers and the public

Motivations to conserveInability to measure landscape water use

Conservation practices you recommend to the ITPConsistent enforcement of water conservation mandatesPromote obtaining water conservation expertise

Certification programsProvide more outreach and education

By groups to customize information and message Professional landscape managers- public agency and commercial Growers Retail nursery staff and garden enthusiasts and General public