Dry Weather and Drought Tips

If it’s Falling…

You may as well collect! The upcoming dry summer months are probably the last thing on your mind during heavy late winter and spring rains. At this time of year, it may seem like it will never dry out, but it’s important to remember that a hot summer is just around the corner. So why not collect that [...]

Read More

Hop Along, Young Grasshopper

Grasshoppers are an all-too-common invader of gardens across the country. They’re difficult to control because they are highly mobile and can do large amounts of damage in a very short period of time. You might think grasshoppers are just a summer problem, but there’s plenty you can do this spring to gauge what this year’s [...]

Read More

Desert Trout

We don’t often associate the desert with trout habitat, but the gila (HEEL-a) trout, or “trout of the desert,” is a unique species that lives in the arid climate of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.  Unfortunately, the gila trout has suffered severe population declines over the past 100 years and currently occupy only a fraction [...]

Read More

Scare Up Water Savings

This Halloween, take a minute to teach your little G.I. Joes and Cinderellas a thing or two about conserving water when it’s time to brush their teeth after all those treats.
Viewer Tip: Turning off the tap while you brush your teeth saves eight gallons per day, adding up to enough water in a year to take 170 [...]

Read More

California’s Water-Energy Connection

Most people don’t realize the considerable amount of energy it takes to deliver, treat and heat the water they use. In fact, American public water supply and treatment facilities consume about 56 billion kilowatt-hours per year—enough electricity to power more than five million homes for an entire year. In California, water-related energy use accounts for [...]

Read More

When the Rain Falls Down…

If the water we use is replenished by precipitation, why do we need to save it? The short answer is that while water can be purified and reused over and over thanks to the natural water cycle and wastewater treatment technology, it may not be available everywhere—or every time—it’s needed. When we all use water [...]

Read More

Rake in Water Savings

Did you know that at least 30 percent of the water you use at home is outdoors? In drier parts of the country, homeowners use as much as 70 percent of their water outdoors.
Viewer Tip: This autumn, look for ways to be more water-efficient and fall into good water habits.

Adjust your watering schedule each month [...]

Read More

Spawning Salmon

Fall is the best time to see salmon returning to spawn in Puget Sound and Olympic Peninsula rivers.  Plenty of water is needed for salmon to swim upstream and successfully reproduce.  After salmon lay their eggs in the gravel stream beds, they die. The eggs are left on their own and rely on a flow [...]

Read More

Garden Guzzlers

Nationwide, Americans use more than seven billion gallons of water per day to water lawns and gardens.  That’s enough water to fill more than 10,700 Olympic-sized swimming pools!  Look for drought-tolerant plants to help reduce your outdoor water use.
Water Guzzlers: Plants with dark, glossy, large leaves tend to require more water because more leaf surface [...]

Read More

Don’t Let Money Go Down the Drain

Did you know that you can have a big impact on water and energy use by upgrading bathroom fixtures in your home?

Faucets: Installing WaterSense labeled faucets or faucet aerators in your bathrooms could reduce your household’s annual water use by more than 500 gallons and save 70 kilowatt-hours of electricity used for heating the water [...]

Read More

Summer Gardening

Everyone knows that hot, dry weather can be a killer in the garden.  Conserving water isn’t just for desert gardens or times of drought, though – it’s something you can do in any part of the country at any time of the year.
Viewer Tip: The National Wildlife Federation offers these tips to conserve water in [...]

Read More

Fireworks (Wisconsin)

In a typical year, more fires are reported on Independence Day than any other day – fireworks account for at least half of those fires.  In 2006, an estimated 32,600 reported fires were caused by fireworks, including 1,700 structure fires, 600 vehicle fires and 30,300 fires outdoors.
Viewer Tip: Over half of Wisconsin is currently experiencing [...]

Read More

Fireworks (Hawaii)

In a typical year, more fires are reported on Independence Day than any other day – fireworks account for at least half of those fires.  In 2006, an estimated 32,600 reported fires were caused by fireworks, including 1,700 structure fires, 600 vehicle fires and 30,300 fires outdoors.
Viewer Tip: Nearly all of Hawaii is currently experiencing [...]

Read More

Fireworks (Minnesota)

In a typical year, more fires are reported on Independence Day than any other day – fireworks account for at least half of those fires.  In 2006, an estimated 32,600 reported fires were caused by fireworks, including 1,700 structure fires, 600 vehicle fires and 30,300 fires outdoors.
Viewer Tip: About 43 percent of Minnesota is currently [...]

Read More

Fireworks (Oklahoma)

In a typical year, more fires are reported on Independence Day than any other day – fireworks account for at least half of those fires.  In 2006, an estimated 32,600 reported fires were caused by fireworks, including 1,700 structure fires, 600 vehicle fires and 30,300 fires outdoors.
Viewer Tip: More than 50 percent of Oklahoma is [...]

Read More

Fireworks (Arizona)

In a typical year, more fires are reported on Independence Day than any other day – fireworks account for at least half of those fires.  In 2006, an estimated 32,600 reported fires were caused by fireworks, including 1,700 structure fires, 600 vehicle fires and 30,300 fires outdoors.
Viewer Tip: More than 64 percent of Arizona is [...]

Read More

Fireworks (Louisiana)

In a typical year, more fires are reported on Independence Day than any other day – fireworks account for at least half of those fires.  In 2006, an estimated 32,600 reported fires were caused by fireworks, including 1,700 structure fires, 600 vehicle fires and 30,300 fires outdoors.
Viewer Tip: About 67 percent of Louisiana is currently [...]

Read More

Fireworks (Texas)

In a typical year, more fires are reported on Independence Day than any other day – fireworks account for at least half of those fires.  In 2006, an estimated 32,600 reported fires were caused by fireworks, including 1,700 structure fires, 600 vehicle fires and 30,300 fires outdoors.
Viewer Tip: About 70 percent of Texas is currently [...]

Read More

Fireworks (Montana)

In a typical year, more fires are reported on Independence Day than any other day – fireworks account for at least half of those fires.  In 2006, an estimated 32,600 reported fires were caused by fireworks, including 1,700 structure fires, 600 vehicle fires and 30,300 fires outdoors.
Viewer Tip: About 50 percent of Montana is currently [...]

Read More

Fireworks (Washington)

In a typical year, more fires are reported on Independence Day than any other day – fireworks account for at least half of those fires.  In 2006, an estimated 32,600 reported fires were caused by fireworks, including 1,700 structure fires, 600 vehicle fires and 30,300 fires outdoors.
Viewer Tip: About 49 percent of Washington is currently [...]

Read More