• Trash your tissues. Don’t flush them—one less flush per day can save nearly 1,300 gallons of water over the course of a year. That’s enough to wash about 32 loads of laundry!
• Lighten your number of loads. Did you know washing clothes is the second largest use of indoor water? Combine small loads to eliminate one load per week, and you’ll save 2,100 gallons of water per year.
• Keep your (water) cool. Fill your water glass with cool water from a pitcher in the fridge. This way the water goes in your glass, not down the drain.

This information is provided by the U.S. EPA’s WaterSense program. Learn more at www.epa.gov/WaterSense/.

Viewer Tip: Install a rain gauge on your property in an open area away from trees, buildings and other structures to record the amount of rainfall supplied by nature.  Irrigation should only be used to make up the difference of what is still needed by your plants.

For more information on installing and using a rain gauge, visit: www.uri.edu/ce/healthylandscapes/raingauge.htm.

This message is brought to you by the Water Conservation Garden. Learn more at www.thegarden.org.

Viewer Tip: Find native plants suitable to your region and the conditions of your yard on the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center’s native plant information network at www.wildflower.org/plants.  Also check out the Wildflower Center’s new Drought Resource Center at www.wildflower.org/drought-resource-center. It includes “How To” articles about caring for plants, Mr. Smarty Plants’ answers to submitted questions, a national list of drought-tolerant native plants and more.

This message is provided by the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center . Learn more at www.wildflower.org.

Viewer Tip: To keep trees alive in your neck of the woods, mulch at the base of a tree, avoiding the first few inches around the trunk to prevent rot. A two-inch depth of mulch helps retain moisture and insulates tree roots from weather extremes. Instead of watering the trunk of a tree on your designated watering days, do a deep soaking with  water aimed at the tree’s root line: the point where tree branches end (a tree’s roots also extend that far out).

This information is provided by the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Learn more at www.wildflower.org.

• Pacific Northwest: There are several volcanoes in the Pacific Northwest, including Mount St. Helens, Mount Rainier and Mount Hood. Volcanic eruptions can impact local weather. Eruptions emit particles and gases into the atmosphere, creating a haze. This haze can remain in the air for years, reflecting the sun’s rays and reducing temperatures at the Earth’s surface.

  (Image right: Aerial view of Mount St. Helens. NASA Earth Observatory)

• Western US: The Sierra Nevada Mountains that run north-south through California basically separate the Western United States into a wetter (west) side and a drier (east) side. Storms come off the Pacific Ocean from the west and get lifted up by the Sierra Nevada Mountains – a process called orographic lifting. As these storms rise, they cool and condense, raining a lot of water back onto the ground.

  But, as the storms continue to make their way over the top of the mountains to the east, they don’t dump as much rain because they have already lost a lot of moisture. This causes a rain shadow to form on the east side of the mountain range where there is a low amount of rainfall. The rain shadow from the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Mountains impacts the weather in the Great Basin, which covers most of Nevada and parts of Utah.

  (Image right: Rain shadow formation. Wikimedia Commons)

• Great Lakes: The Great Lakes region is known for its lake effect snow. As cold air passes over the Lakes, warmer lake water below evaporates and heats the bottom layer of cold air.  Warm, moist air rises and cools, causing condensation and cloud formation. If humidity is high enough and temperatures are cold enough, snow falls.  Winds push these clouds over land, where increased friction slows the winds, leading to more snowfall accumulation.  As winds move farther inland and encounter hills, rising air cools even more, creating even more snow!

  (Image right: Lake effect snow over the Great Lakes. NASA Earth Observatory)

• Great Plains: The Great Plains may be known as Tornado Alley, but their topography allows for another weather phenomena – blizzards! The Rocky Mountains to the west are the driving force for blizzards in the Great Plains.  A cold polar air mass that moves off the Rockies pushes southward accompanied by high winds, intense cold and considerable amounts of snow that can last for several days.

  (Image right: Blizzard conditions over the Great Plains. NASA Earth Observatory)

• South Central US: Droughts are periods of unusually dry weather that the South Central United States experiences at times – including right now.  Droughts can bring upon dust storms, which are common in arid and semi-arid regions.  A dust storm occurs when a gust of wind blows loose sand or dust particles off the ground, breaks down the particles and keeps them suspended in the air.  Dust storms can spread over hundreds of miles and well over 10,000 feet into the air.

  (Image right: Dust storm in Phoenix, 2011. NOAA National Weather Service)




• Eastern US: One geographic feature that affects the entire East Coast is the Atlantic Ocean.  The ocean plays a big role in determining the temperatures near the coast.  During  fall and winter when the ocean is warmer than the land, the coastal regions experience warmer temperatures than inland areas.  In the springtime, ocean breezes keep temperatures along the coast cooler than inland areas.

  (Image right: Sea breeze diagram. Wikimedia Commons: Jesús Gómez Fernández)

Learn more about Geography Awareness Week: www.nationalgeographic.com/geography-action/index.html.

(Sources: National Science Teachers Association, “Earthquakes, Volcanoes, and Tsunamis”, http://www.enviroliteracy.org/nsfmod/NaturesFury.pdf, “A Rain Shadow”, http://bcs.whfreeman.com/thelifewire/content/chp56/5602001.html, “Warm water helps create Great Lakes snowstorms.” University Corporation for Atmospheric Research. 2008, US Department of State, “The Great Plains and Prairies”, http://countrystudies.us/united-states/geography-17.htm, Kidz World, “Dust Storms”, http://www.kidzworld.com/article/707-dust-storm-on-the-loose, “Cold air damming can bring ice to East.” http://www.usatoday.com/weather/tg/wcolddam/wcolddam.htm, “Warm water helps create Great Lakes snowstorms.” University Corporation for Atmospheric Research. 2008., United States Search and Rescue Task Force, “Predicting Weather”, http://www.ussartf.org/predicting_weather.htm)

Viewer Tip: To protect the oysters, the Galveston Bay Foundation (GBF) has a newly established oyster shell recycling program. Since March of 2011, GBF has been collecting discarded oyster shells, curing them and then using them for the oyster reef restoration program. Oyster larvae are free flowing in our bay and in search of a hard substrate to settle on and begin growth. Recycled oyster shells are a perfect solution. Recycled oyster shells are bagged and hung over residences’ piers to attract larvae, which will grow on the shells as spat. The oyster gardening bags are removed from the piers and the live, gardened oysters are placed on several constructed reef pads in an effort to expedite colonization by oysters. These oysters are for conservation efforts and not used for consumption. If you would like to get involved in our community based oyster reef restoration effort, please visit www.galvbay.org.   

This information provided by the Galveston Bay Foundation. Learn more at www.galvbay.org.

Viewer Tip: If you are searching for ways to save money on your water bill, look for the WaterSense label at your local home improvement store. A WaterSense labeled toilet is independently certified to use 20 percent less water than a standard model, while still providing flushing power. By replacing an older, inefficient toilet with a WaterSense labeled toilet, each person in your family can save 10 gallons of water per day!

Want to save even more water? Give your bathroom a mini-makeover: add a WaterSense labeled  faucet and showerhead, in addition to the toilet. Your family can save enough water to wash six months’ worth of laundry, enough electricity to run the refrigerator for two months, and 80 dollars in utility bills every year!

This information is provided by the U.S. EPA’s WaterSense Program. Learn more at www.epa.gov/WaterSense.

• Wet and soggy: Too much rain can cause crops to rot. Mildews, which thrive in wet conditions, can damage leaves and stems or kill pumpkin vines and fruits. During spring of this year, heavy rain delayed pumpkin planting the northeast, which in turn delays harvest time. Then, Hurricane Irene flooded pumpkin fields throughout the northeastern United States in September. (Photo at right: Powdery mildew makes leaves on pumpkin vines brittle and dry)
• Hot and dry: Dry, hot weather can cause pumpkins to produce too many male blossoms and too few female blossoms, resulting in a smaller harvest. Lack of water during droughts can also result in smaller and lighter-weight pumpkins. Pumpkin harvest in Texas dropped 40 percent or more due to drought conditions in the state this year.
• Chilly: An early freeze can kill pumpkins. And, chilly weather in the spring can prevent pumpkin blossoms from germinating. Why? Because bees – which carry pollen from plant to plant – don’t fly until the temperature is at least 55 degrees. Without bees and pollination, there are no pumpkins.

Viewer Tip: Despite a rough year for pumpkin patches, many farmers are meeting demand by bringing in pumpkins from other areas. If you are carving or cooking this year, put the whole pumpkin to use!  If you don’t eat the seeds yourself, spread them outside as a snack for birds and squirrels.  And, instead of weighing down your trash bags and sending past-their-prime pumpkins to the landfill, put them to use in your garden.  Pumpkins can be added to compost piles, where they will decompose and add nutrients to your compost.

(Sources: University of Illinois Extension. “Pumpkins and More: Pumpkin Facts.” http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/pumpkins/facts.html; The National Center for Appropriate Technology. “Organic Pumpkin and Winter Squash Production.” www.attra.ncat.org; USA Today. “Northeast Farmers Warn of Irene Pumpkin Shortage.” http://www.usatoday.com/weather/news/story/2011-09-19/northeast-pumpkin-shortage-hurricane-irene-floods/50466270/1; Houston Chronicle, “Drought takes bite out of Texas pumpkin harvest,” http://www.chron.com/business/article/Drought-takes-bite-out-of-Texas-pumpkins-2186331.php; Portland Tribune, “Pining for the Pumpkin Patch,” http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=131863808601002000)

Photo courtesy of Maine.gov.

Viewer Tip: Studies of wildfires suggest wind-borne embers reaching a roof or other flammable material on your house are the biggest threat. Removing leaf litter and debris from gutters and underneath decks and other overhangs is important, as is using non-flammable roofing, deck and other materials when possible.  You can also clear your property of fallen limbs and prune lower tree branches to help reduce the fuel load for a wildfire nearby.  Clearing from 30 to 100 feet around your house is recommended.  Avoid highly flammable vegetation near your house, such as Ashe juniper, agarita and conifers.  Climbing vines on walls can start a house fire, as can attached fences or porches made of flammable material.  Avoid mowing dried grass and remove dry vegetation, rocks and other debris that might produce sparks in a parched lawn before mowing.

This information is provided by the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower center. Learn more at csfs.colostate.edu/pdfs/wholenotebook.pdf, and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Website at www.wildflower.org.

Viewer Tip: You can help scientists study phenology by tracking the timing of leaf emergence, leaf drop and other life-cycle events in your own backyard. Visit the USA National Phenology Network at www.usanpn.org/participate/observe to learn how to observe plants and animals at home and share your data.

(Sources: USGS. “How will Climate Change Impact Leaf Fall?” www.usgs.gov; William Deedler, National Weather Service. Faster Fall Foliage? http://www.crh.noaa.gov/dtx/foliage.php)

Viewer Tip: The Water Conservation Garden recommends that homeowners use drip irrigation to apply water directly to the roots of plants in order to save water.  Drip irrigation is the only method recommended for watering on windy days and is an ideal method of watering on hillsides.

For more information on drip irrigation, visit: www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/04702.pdf.

This tip is provided by the Water Conservation Garden. Learn more at www.thegarden.org.

Viewer Tip: Looking for a little home improvement project this Labor Day weekend? Making some simple changes around the house can save water and money.  Just check, twist and replace.

• Check toilets for leaks.
• Twist on a WaterSense labeled faucet aerator.
• Replace an old, water-hogging showerhead with a WaterSense labeled model.

Visit www.epa.gov/watersense/pubs/simple_steps.html for additional water-saving tips.

This information is provided by the U.S. EPA’s WaterSense Program. Learn more at www.epa.gov/watersense.

Viewer Tip: Conserving water at home doesn’t have to be a chore.  Just a few simple changes to your daily routine can add up to big water savings.

• Save 5 gallons: Shorten your shower by just two minutes.
• Save 5 gallons: Turn water off between rinsing dishes, rather than running water continuously.
• Save at least 20 gallons: Water your lawn and garden in the early morning or evening hours, when the weather is cooler and water is less likely to evaporate.

These easy steps will save at least 30 gallons of water in one day.

Want to save even more? Check out The 40 Gallon Challenge at www.40gallonchallenge.org for more simple ways to save water at home. Track your savings and see what others in your community are doing.

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Viewer Tip: To make sure you’re watering only when your lawn needs it, step on your grass. If it springs back, then it doesn’t need water. If it does need water, sprinkle in the early morning or late evening, when it’s a bit cooler, so the water doesn’t evaporate.

This information is provided by U.S. EPA’s WaterSense Program. Learn more at  http://epa.gov/watersense/water_efficiency/when_its_hot.html.

Viewer Tip: You can lend a hand to wildlife in your own backyard with these simple tips.

• Keep bird baths full of clean water. Don’t have a bird bath? Adding one to your yard is relatively inexpensive and provides great bird watching opportunities.
• Create a “drip jug” to hang over your bird bath. Fill a plastic milk jug with water and poke a tiny hole in the bottom. The dripping sound of the water will attract birds to the bath.
• Put a few water-filled containers of different depths on the ground to help out ground squirrels and other small mammals.
• Remember to change water frequently to prevent mosquitoes from breeding in your yard.

Find more tips for helping wildlife cope with heat and drought at blog.nwf.org/wildlifepromise/2011/07/simple-tips-for-helping-wildlife-during-heat-waves-and-drought/.

(Source: National Wildlife Federation. “Simple Tips for Helping Wildife During Heat and Drought.” http://blog.nwf.org/wildlifepromise/2011/07/simple-tips-for-helping-wildlife-during-heat-waves-and-drought/)

Viewer Tip: Weather keeping you inside? Keep these water-saving tips in mind:

• Keep a pitcher of drinking water in the refrigerator instead of letting the faucet run until the water is cool.
• Wash summer fruits and vegetables in a bowl of water, and use a vegetable brush to clean them instead of rinsing.
• Scrape, don’t rinse, dishes before loading into the dishwasher, and wash only full loads.
• If you’re remodeling your bathroom or replacing plumbing fixtures this summer, look for the WaterSense label for products that save water and perform well.

This information is provided by the U.S. EPA’s WaterSense Program.  Learn more at www.epa.gov/watersense.

Viewer Tip: The 40 Gallon challenge tracks individual water savings county-by-county across the United States.  Using the 40 Gallon Challenge’s interactive map, you can see how much water counties and states are saving and what water-saving techniques are most popular.  Help put your state on the map by pledging to adopt new water-saving techniques at home – like fixing leaky toilets and broken sprinkler heads – to save at least 40 gallons of water a day.

Why 40 gallons? Saving a minimum of 40 gallons a day for 30 days adds up to more than 1,000 gallons per month. Most water providers bill in thousand-gallon increments, so you should see real savings on your water bill if you put to use the recommended water-saving practices.

(Source: The 40 Gallon Challenge, www.40gallonchallenge.org)

Viewer Tip: Saving water is especially important during a drought. The 40 Gallon Challenge tracks individual water savings county-by-county across the United States.  Using the 40 Gallon Challenge’s interactive map, you can see how much water counties and states are saving and what water-saving techniques are most popular.  Visit www.40gallonchallenge.org to pledge to save water at home and compete against other counties to help your state save the most water in the country!

Why 40 gallons? Saving a minimum of 40 gallons a day for 30 days adds up to more than 1,000 gallons per month. Most water providers bill in thousand-gallon increments, so you should see real savings on your water bill if you put to use the recommended water-saving practices.

(Source: The 40 Gallon Challenge, www.40gallonchallenge.org)

• Check for leaks. Look for dripping faucets, showerheads and fixture connections. Find silent toilet leaks by putting a few drops of food coloring into the tank, waiting 10 minutes and seeing if color appears in the bowl before you flush. Don’t forget to check irrigation systems and spigots outdoors.
• Twist and tighten pipe connections. To save more water in the bathroom without a noticeable difference in flow, twist on a WaterSense labeled faucet aerator.
• Replace fixtures if necessary. Look for WaterSense labeled models, which are independently certified to use 20 percent less water and perform as well or better than standard models.

This information is provided by the U.S. EPA’s WaterSense Program. Learn more at www.epa.gov/watersense/water_efficiency/fix_a_leak.html.

Viewer Tip: This is a good time of year to survey your property and reduce the amount of flammable material around your home.  An easy way to do this is to think of your property in zones:

• Zone 1 is closest to your home and extends for at least 30 feet. This zone should be well-irrigated and planted with native plants that are well-suited to the local climate.
• Zone 2 extends at least 20 feet from Zone 1. This area should also be well-irrigated and can include low-growing plants, shrubs and carefully-placed trees. Place trees at least 10 feet apart and trim away dead branches.
• Zone 3 is the furthest from your home and extends at least 50 feet from Zone 2. Think of this as a “slightly modified natural area.” Thin out dense areas of trees and remove dead or dying trees and shrubs.

Season: Spring

(Sources: National Wildland/Urban Interface Fire Protection Program. “Fire Hazard Assessment in the Wildland/Urban Interface.” http://www.firewise.org/resources/nfpa/index.html; Firewise. “Is Your Home Protected from Wildfire Disaster?” http://www.firewise.org/resources/homeowner.htm)